Substandard and Falsified Medications: A Barrier to Global Health Equity Exemplified in Ecuador

Abstract

Medicines have been developed and have become globalized at a pace faster than traditional medical education can keep up. Physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and advanced practice providers learn the names and functions of these medications, but not how they are made and how they get to the bedside. The often economically driven intricacies behind these processes have a dramatic effect on patient care and outcomes. A staggering proportion of medications worldwide are reported to be substandard or falsified. This article explores one country’s story of how medication gets to the bedside, describes how this process can go wrong, and outlines what providers can do to work toward the goal of equitable access to quality medications for all.