The most recent figures from the World Health Organization estimates the growth rate for counterfeit drugs grew 90% between 2005 to 2010, one of the world’s fastest growing industries. Counterfeit drugs make up half the global pharmaceutical market and generate $430 billion annually .
About every type of pharmaceutical, medical device and medical-related product has been counterfeited, including blood glucose test strips, contact lenses, surgical instruments, and even condoms. These fakes could be medications without active ingredients or with incorrect quantities of active ingredients. They may contain wrong ingredients or, in some cases, high levels of impurities and contaminants. They may be copies of other original products or may come with fake packaging.
The map above is from Safemedicines.org and contains links to counterfeit drug incidents around the world.
Why the exponential growth?
The simple answer is; profits are high and the risks are low.
Profit on Viagra for example, is 10 times higher than heroin sold on a street corner. If you’re caught selling heroin the crime is based on drug laws and usually results in a long prison sentence. In some countries like Malaysia the sentence is death, even for the first offense. On the other hand if you’re caught counterfeiting medical supplies or medication the charges will be based on fraud, money laundering or illegal importing, and you might get two years in prison and with good behavior be back in business a year later.
Thanks to technology a counterfeiter can obtain all the materials and expertise to fill a prescription with something that looks exactly like the original right down to the packaging and the security holograms. Although the product may look just like the legitimate version they are far from it. Some may contain a limited or increased dose of the medication while others are made from ingredients such as crushed sheet rock, often used to manufacture pills. Then there are those made from a toxic brew of ingredients designed to mimic the actual product. These often contain chemicals that can cause serious complications even death.
The UCLA Anderson Global Supply Chain reports online pharmacies create golden opportunities for selling counterfeit drugs without being exposed easily. As of 2013, there were over 35,000 online pharmacies and 97% of them did not comply with US laws.
Preventing counterfeit medicines from entering the United States is especially difficult, in part because nearly 40% of drugs are made overseas and approximately 80% of the active medicinal components of drugs are imported.
– The National Center for Biotechnology Information
So why would anyone take the risk on them?
Cost and accessibility. The price of medication can be very high and for some, the only way they can afford them is through the black market. Counterfeit drugs are easy to get on-line. Almost anything is available from the hundreds of internet pharmacies, with or without a prescription. The anonymous nature of this kind of transaction also allows people to buy something thy are not comfortable asking their doctor for. There are unregistered pharmacies in every country where fake medical supplies and drugs can be bought at rock bottom prices.
If you want to know more detail about this subject follow these links:
Counterfeit medications – From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
PharmTech – Campaign against fake drugs
When Counterfeit and Contaminated Drugs Are Deadly
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy®
The Health and Economic Effects of Counterfeit Drugs
Counterfeit Drugs Around the Globe
Pfizer role in combating counterfeit medicine
Partnership For Safe Medicines
Irish drugs gangs trafficking fake pharmaceuticals
