Through inventions and advancement of technology, health practitioners shifted from herbal medicines and embraced the use of chemically manufactured drugs. The introduction of modern prescription was a vital tool to the clipping health sector. However, in the twenty-first century, uncontrolled drug manufacturing has led to the introduction of the counterfeit drugs in the market. While the number and spread of life-threatening diseases keep rising, the efforts to fight them and restore normal health in the society has been thwarted by the surging circulation and sale of counterfeit drugs.
Pharmaceutical counterfeiting is a threatening problem to the economic stability and public health, nationally and internationally. Counterfeit drugs are medicinal products which are fraudulently and deliberately manufactured with an intention to represent the genuine product (Williams, 2014; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2016). According to World Health Organization, an estimated 30% of all drugs sold in the developing and developed nations are imitations (Seiter, 2009). Continuous consumption of bogus pills may harm patient’s body by compromising the healing process. When a patient continuously uses these fake drugs, especially the antibiotics, the body develops resistance to the drugs even when a qualified physician administers the right medication. Other adverse effects of counterfeit drugs include the development of health complications.
In conclusion, it is evident that counterfeit drugs are a great health hazard to the world, especially in the third world nations. A large percentage of these drugs are purchased over the counter and taken without consultation with the qualified health officers. As a result, the deterioration of the health in the societies has become rampant. Strict regulations should be enforced to combat this problem of counterfeit drugs.
References
Seiter, A. (2009). Health and economic consequences of counterfeit drugs. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 85(6), 576-578. doi:10.1038/clpt.2009.47
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2016, August 12). Counterfeit medicine. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/CounterfeitMedicine/
Williams, L. (2014, June 19). The real impact of counterfeit medications. Retrieved from https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/counterfeit-meds
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