[e-drug] fake artemisinins and ARVs in DR Congo

E-DRUG: fake artemisinins and ARVs in DR Congo
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Dear all,

Some counterfeit ARVs have been found at Lubumbashi, DR Congo and reported by our colleagues.

With the deterioration of his economical situation and the hardness to get respected the existing pharmaceutical and customs rules, the DRC as other third world countries is more and more facing a problem of counterfeit and substandard drugs.

There are not formal survey that could assume the extend of this scourge in my country. I am currently interested in pharmacopoeial quality of artemisinin-relatives drugs in DR Congo, but the local capacity for drug quality assurance is poorest whereas the disease burden is highest. Samples collection is undergoing and only preliminary tests have been achieved using unvalidated methods.

About ARVs, I am not able to ensure that all passed quality assays since HPLC method is not available in DR Congo. I do hope that our discussion forum could help in finding technical support, collaboration or partnership to make ARVs and artemisinins quality control feasible in routine ways.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely.

Odon BINZAMBAL MULANGU
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
UNIVERSITY OF KINSHASA
DEM REP OF CONGO
Phone: +243 818128707
email: omulangu@unikin.cd

E-DRUG: fake artemisinins and ARVs in DR Congo (2)
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Dear Friend,

I do agree with you for quality standards of medicines available in
D.R.CONGO as I visited this area. Only way to improve this is by necessary
quality control measures from your Ministry of Health. FDA (Food and Drug
Administration) must have a very good quality control lab with necessary
accurate analytical equipments and qualified/well trained personnel to
analyse these products. Need to improve sampling procedures and frequency. Even all imported medicines shall go for analysis first before it reaches to the patients.

Only we are the ones who can stop entertaining the fake medicines and can
help the patient to survive more.

Thanks.

"Prabhu"
prabhu@zenufa.com
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