The Issue
Modern medical advances have turned once-fatal diseases into treatable and curable conditions. Yet, life-saving treatments offer false hope when patients receive poor-quality medicines. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated one in 10 medicines in low- and middle-income countries is poor-quality.
The Issue
Modern medical advances have turned once-fatal diseases into treatable and curable conditions. Yet, life-saving treatments offer false hope when patients receive poor-quality medicines. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated one in 10 medicines in low- and middle-income countries is poor-quality.
The Issue
Modern medical advances have turned once-fatal diseases into treatable and curable conditions. Yet, life-saving treatments offer false hope when patients receive poor-quality medicines. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated one in 10 medicines in low- and middle-income countries is poor-quality.
Global Impact
Poor-quality medicines undermine nearly all of the world’s health priorities and affect every country. Efforts to combat infectious diseases, reduce maternal and child mortality, treat chronic conditions and achieve universal health coverage all depend on quality-assured medical products.
Global Impact
Poor-quality medicines undermine nearly all of the world’s health priorities and affect every country. Efforts to combat infectious diseases, reduce maternal and child mortality, treat chronic conditions and achieve universal health coverage all depend on quality-assured medical products.
What Are Poor-Quality Medicines?
Poor-quality medicines fall into two categories.
FALSIFIED:
Medicines that deliberately or fraudulently misrepresent their identity, composition or source.
SUBSTANDARD:
Medicines that fail to meet quality specifications (e.g., those that contain too little of the active ingredients or that have degraded from improper storage and transport conditions).
What Are Poor-Quality Medicines?
Poor-quality medicines fall into two categories.
FALSIFIED:
Medicines that deliberately or fraudulently misrepresent their identity, composition or source.
SUBSTANDARD:
Medicines that fail to meet quality specifications (e.g., those that contain too little of the active ingredients or that have degraded from improper storage and transport conditions).
What Are Poor-Quality Medicines?
Poor-quality medicines fall into two categories.
FALSIFIED:
Medicines that deliberately or fraudulently misrepresent their identity, composition or source.
SUBSTANDARD:
Medicines that fail to meet quality specifications (e.g., those that contain too little of the active ingredients or that have degraded from improper storage and transport conditions).
Solutions
Across the world, individuals, families, and countries are affected by poor-quality medicines – but each of us can do our part to prevent their spread:

Countries
Establish strong regulatory systems that prevent poor-quality medicines from moving through the supply chain and remove them when they do.

Donors
Prioritize investments in regulatory systems and ensure quality assurance is incorporated into medical product manufacturing, procurement and distribution practices.

Health Workers
Remain stewards of quality who actively engage with relevant regulatory authorities when treatment failure related to poor-quality medicines is suspected.

Patients and Consumers
Know what to look for, report suspicious products and demand quality in medicines.
Solutions
Across the world, individuals, families, and countries are affected by poor-quality medicines – but each of us can do our part to prevent their spread:

Countries
Establish strong regulatory systems that prevent poor-quality medicines from moving through the supply chain and remove them when they do.

Donors
Prioritize investments in regulatory systems and ensure quality assurance is incorporated into medical product manufacturing, procurement and distribution practices.

Health Workers
Remain stewards of quality who actively engage with relevant regulatory authorities when treatment failure related to poor-quality medicines is suspected.

Patients and Consumers
Know what to look for, report suspicious products and demand quality in medicines.