Nigeria’s marathon struggle against counterfeit medicines

Abstract

Counterfeit and substandard medicines are not unusual in Africa. A concerted enforcement effort and reworked regulation have lessened the problem in Nigeria—but the roots remain, report Oluwatosin Adeshokan and Christine Ro

Quality of Essential Medicines from Different Sources in Enugu and Anambra, Nigeria

“…Although the number of SF medicines detected in this study is concerning, it is markedly lower than frequently speculated in the lay press and in some scholarly publications. 54 , 55 For example, in a survey among 541 health professionals in Nigeria, the proportion of “fake” medicines on the Nigerian market was estimated to be 49% on average. 56 A Nigerian official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency was even quoted by the press as stating that in Nigeria, 70% of all the drugs on the market would be “fake.” 57 , 58 A much lower percentage of falsified medicines was found in the present study, and this is in agreement with the results of previous scientific studies in Nigeria (see Introduction).…”

“…However, no clearly falsified medicines were found from licensed vendors. It should be noted that the “open drug markets” 36 , 54 in Onitsha and Enugu are not simple roadside market stalls like in some neighboring African countries but are shops with a professional appearance, often very well stocked with many types of medicines. Our data show that simple adherence to licensed vendors is not sufficient to exclude substandard medicines from medicine procurement.…”

Antibiotic costs rise 1100% as big pharma exits Nigeria

“…The situation is further complicated by a reluctance to use cheaper generics, in part driven by concerns over counterfeit drugs. In Nigeria, for instance, the rampant presence of counterfeit drugs has led to a widespread preference for branded generics 5. Despite their higher prices, these branded generics are perceived as offering a higher level of quality assurance.…”

“…Despite their higher prices, these branded generics are perceived as offering a higher level of quality assurance. However, this is not entirely failsafe, as instances of counterfeiting have been documented even among well established brands 5…”