E-DRUG: Prevalence of counterfeit medications in Pakistan (corr)
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Dear Colleagues
Few days ago I posted one of my article "counterfeit drugs: a public health policy failure" on e-drug. In the article (written in Pakistani context) it was mentioned that "40-50%" drugs in Pakistan are counterfeit.
After posting on e-drug, WHO/ EMRO asked about the data source of these figures and I pointed them to WIPRO website http://www.wpro.who.int/media_centre/fact_sheets/fs_20050503.htm
However further probing revealed the lack of a primary source or any original study confirming the above. As a result of that the figures have now been removed from WIPRO website.
It now says that though counterfeit problem does exist in Pakistan but the exact figures are not known which, is a factual statement.
Many figures keep floating about counterfeit medicines with reference to different countries. I wonder how many systematic studies support such figures. I invite people on this list to discuss the validity of statistics about counterfeit medicines and how the situation can be improved given that such studies are complicated, expensive and time consuming. More valid figures are required to boost the campaign. But how to go about it?
Regards
Zaheer
Zaheer Ud din Babar B.Pharm., R.Ph.,MScPharm
Senior Lecturer
School of Pharmacy
University College Sedaya International
Lot 18113,Off Jalan Cerdas, Taman Connaught
Cheras, 56000
Kuala Lumpur.Malaysia
Tel: +60 3 91018880
Fax:+60 3 91023606
zaheerb@ucsi.edu.my