Comments on: When Substandard Drugs and Developing Nations Collide http://blog.pharmtech.com/2009/07/15/when-substandard-drugs-and-developing-nations-collide/ The blog of Pharmaceutical Technology magazine Thu, 09 May 2013 23:30:55 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Julian H http://blog.pharmtech.com/2009/07/15/when-substandard-drugs-and-developing-nations-collide/comment-page-1/#comment-17332 Julian H Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:27:48 +0000 http://blog.pharmtech.com/?p=1539#comment-17332 I'm not sure how this is a case of "rich states ... using West Africa as a dumping ground for fake medicines." Which rich states have produced fake drugs and dumped them on West Africa? At most one could claim culpability of corrupt state actors in Russia and China, but this doesn't address the root of the problem. Fakes are prevalent in countries with weak trademark law and high corruption. This prevents companies from protecting their brands, and prevents victims from obtaining redress from crooks who have provided them with harmful products. Meanwhile genuine high-quality medicines faces taxes, tariffs and other barriers to entry - so counterfeits either under-cut them or replace them completely. Until these factors change, counterfeit drugs will remain a problem. I’m not sure how this is a case of “rich states … using West Africa as a dumping ground for fake medicines.” Which rich states have produced fake drugs and dumped them on West Africa? At most one could claim culpability of corrupt state actors in Russia and China, but this doesn’t address the root of the problem.

Fakes are prevalent in countries with weak trademark law and high corruption. This prevents companies from protecting their brands, and prevents victims from obtaining redress from crooks who have provided them with harmful products.

Meanwhile genuine high-quality medicines faces taxes, tariffs and other barriers to entry – so counterfeits either under-cut them or replace them completely.

Until these factors change, counterfeit drugs will remain a problem.

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