Berlin: Across Africa, cancer medications have been found to be substandard or counterfeit. This means people are receiving medicine that may not work or could even cause harm. An alarming number of people across the continent may be taking cancer drugs lacking the vital ingredients needed to manage their disease.
According to Deutsche Welle, these findings highlight a complex issue of regulating therapeutics across Africa. While similar cases of substandard antibiotics, antimalarial, and tuberculosis drugs have been reported in the past, this is the first study to reveal high levels of falsified or defective anticancer drugs in circulation. Lutz Heide, a pharmacist from the University of Tübingen, who has researched substandard medicines, expressed that although he was not surprised by the results, the report is a significant step in systematically addressing the issue.
The investigation, led by Marya Lieberman of the University of Notre Dame, points to multiple causes for the poor quality of these products, including manufacturing faults, poor storage conditions, and counterfeit drugs. The study found that visual inspections were inadequate in identifying substandard products, with laboratory testing being necessary for accurate detection. Lieberman emphasized the need for improved regulation and enhanced screening technologies to tackle the problem, citing the lack of facilities for safe handling of toxic cancer drugs in the studied countries.
The issue extends beyond cancer treatments. Nearly a decade ago, the World Health Organization reported that one in ten medicines in low and middle-income countries were substandard or falsified. Health economist Sachiko Ozawa, who contributed to the anticancer drug investigation, highlighted the potential consequences such as treatment failure and economic losses due to ineffective medications. Inadequate regulatory systems and poor access to affordable medications in many regions exacerbate the problem, driving patients to unregulated marketplaces.
In response to the report’s findings, the WHO is collaborating with the affected countries to address the issue. The organization reiterated the need for improved regulatory frameworks to prevent incidents of substandard and falsified medicines. The WHO’s review in 2017 proposed solutions focused on prevention, detection, and response, emphasizing the importance of surveillance programs to prevent poor-quality medicines from reaching patients.
Despite the concerning findings, the majority of tested products met required standards. Lutz Heide noted that while a significant proportion of medications were defective, there were still suppliers providing high-quality products. The WHO continues to work with relevant countries and partners to address these issues and improve regulatory measures in cancer programs.