This archive report was first published on 22 April 2020.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing international trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals has emerged as a pressing concern, with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union (EU) sounding the alarm.
According to a joint report by the OECD and the EU's Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the trafficking and sale of fake or defective medicines enrich criminal groups and endanger health while draining away vital industry and tax revenues.
“The sale of counterfeit and defective pharmaceuticals is a despicable crime, and the discovery of fake medical supplies related to coronavirus just as the world pulls together to fight this pandemic makes this global challenge all the more acute and urgent,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria.
The report highlighted that the counterfeit pharmaceuticals trade was worth €4 billion ($4.3 billion) in 2016, excluding fake medicines produced and consumed domestically and shipments of pharmaceuticals stolen in transit and rerouted for sale in a different market or country.
Most counterfeit drugs seized in 2014-2016 were fake antibiotics, male impotence pills, painkillers, and medications for malaria, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, cancer, high blood pressure, and allergies.
Forensic tests of suspect samples show that in 90% of cases, counterfeit medicines can harm patients, with many containing undeclared substances that can pose serious health risks.
Interpol has recently reported a rise in fake medical products related to COVID-19, with seizures of fake COVID-19 tests, face masks, and hand sanitizers reported by customs authorities worldwide.
According to the report, more than half of the fake medicines seized in recent years originated in India, while nearly a third came from China, with their main destinations being Africa, Europe, and the U.S.
Key transit points in the supply chain include Singapore and Hong Kong, with other routes running through the UAE, Egypt, and Cameroon.
Kenya has received bulk supplies from China, including a donation from billionaire Jack Ma, but there has been no known media report on the standard check on these supplies.
As the novel coronavirus has spread to 185 countries and regions since emerging in China last December, the global health community must remain vigilant against the threat of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
