1 in 10 medical products in developing countries is substandard or falsified

WHO urges governments to take action. An estimated 1 in 10 medical products circulating in low- and middle-income countries is either substandard or falsified, according to new research from WHO.

This means that people are taking medicines that fail to treat or prevent disease. Not only is this a waste of money for individuals and health systems that purchase these products, but substandard or falsified medical products can cause serious illness or even death.

“Substandard and falsified medicines particularly affect the most vulnerable communities,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Imagine a mother who gives up food or other basic needs to pay for her child’s treatment, unaware that the medicines are substandard or falsified, and then that treatment causes her child to die. This is unacceptable. Countries have agreed on measures at the global level – it is time to translate them into tangible action.”

At Imres we constantly fight against counterfeit pharmaceuticals. There is no compromise when it comes to the quality of the pharmaceuticals that we supply to any population . For 37 years, Imres supplies high quality pharmaceuticals at affordable prices. We have an extensive Quality Assurance and Quality Control system in place. Read the full story here