[e-drug] Indian substandard products in Africa (3)

e-drug
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E-DRUG: Indian substandard products in Africa (3)
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Dear colleagues from India and China and anybody who has the facts:

Is it true that India and China do not bother about the standards of products exported from their territories, expecting the countries of destination to accept or reject the products through their regulatory agencies?

If the answer is "true", then we should not be surprised that poor countries with weak regulatory agencies are short-changed.

Thanks to India for the generics (especially the anti-retrovirals) which come cheap because of zero research costs, but Indian and Chinese generics compared to generics from other countries still coming cheaper cheats logic beyond zero research costs and cheap labour theory.

For a saner international drug distribution, the countries of origin of drugs must be compelled to insist on internationally acceptable standards.

regards

Kayode Aiyegbajeje (M. Pharm)
Director, Pharmaceutical Services,
Massey Street Children's Hospital,
Lagos
Nigeria.
+234-8023081201
aiyegbacool@yahoo.com

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E-DRUG: Indian substandard products in Africa (7)
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[your moderator numbered (3) twice, so we renumber one as nr (6). Sorry. WB]

dear E-druggers,

Substandard drugs flout section 25(1) of the Human Rights which says:

'Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.'

The UN should take action against the Governments of those countries who turn a blind eye on the manufacture and exports of substandard drugs bearing the country's label. Sale of substandard drug is improving some exporting countries BOP, GDP, GNI...(you name it!) while creating economic havoc in importing, and very often, vulnerable countries. I strongly believe that there should be towards substandard drugs the same zero tolerance attitude as with the trade of illicit 'street drugs'.

In all international conferences on pharmaceuticals, the issue of sub standard drugs systematically arises. The attitude is that it's for the importing country to ensure the quality...

So much hypocrisy when everybody knows that this is practically impossible. Yes, send us the experts!

The argument of providing cheap generics in the fight of HIV/AIDS doesn't stand against the harm done to millions by sub standard drugs.

Regards

Sarita K.Pulton
Mauritius
sarita_ph@yahoo.com