Counterfeit drugs are not unique to any one region of the world. The who says it has received reports of fake drugs in all regions of the world. And it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people die every year from using fake drugs around the world.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT AFFECT?
Each of the two billion people around the world who do not have access to safe and quality medical products. Whether for social or economic reasons, they run the risk of falling victim to the fake drug trade, says the WHO.
The risk of counterfeit drugs still higher in low- and middle-income countries, where it is estimated that one in ten medical products is fake or of inferior quality.
People who live in countries with weak, non-existent or inaccessible health systems or in areas of conflict or unrest. Where medications may not be readily available, they are more likely to turn to alternative providers who may put their health at risk.
FALSE MEDICINES: How to combat it from medical practice?
Every year, approximately 250,000 children around the world die just as a result of fake drugs against malaria and pneumonia. Poor-quality or counterfeit vaccines, antibiotics, and medical equipment contribute to more deaths.
Education is the first action to combat counterfeit medicines that anyone in any part of the world can take. When you know what to look for and how to spot fake medical products, you can teach other people and so on.
A good start with your patients are the “six Ps” of identifying fake drugs, according to Interpol:
Place: Do not buy drugs from unknown websites or in a market, for any reason. Buy medications only from authorized providers whose authenticity is verifiable.
Prescriptions: Buy only medications prescribed by the doctor or health professional.
Promises: beware of false promises such as “cure all kinds” of serious illness, “money back guarantee”, “no risk” or “limited offer – buy in advance”.
Price: Compare the price with the products that are bought regularly. If it is much cheaper, it is likely a fake.
Privacy: Interpol says the trade in fake medical products has also been linked to credit card fraud and identity theft. Do not reveal any personal information beyond the appropriate medical details.
Product: A drug is bogus if it contains too much, too little, or any different ingredient. It claims to have different properties or side effects. It is not labeled correctly or is not labeled at all; has an outdated or missing expiration date. It does not contain information on how to store the medicine; the packaging looks poorly made or is altered; There are spelling or grammatical errors on the packaging or in the instructions.
* The WHO has described fake medical products as “one of the urgent health challenges of the next decade.” So it is important that we all do our part.
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