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Almuzaini, Tariq, Choonara, Imti and Sammons, Helen (2013) Substandard and counterfeit medicines: a systematic review of the literature. BMJ Open, 3 (8). 8/1-8/8. ISSN 2044-6055

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Abstract

Objective: To explore the evidence available of poorquality

(counterfeit and substandard) medicines in the

literature.

Design: Systematic review.

Data sources: Databases used were EMBASE,

MEDLINE, PubMed and the International

Pharmaceutical Abstracts, including articles published

till January 2013.

Eligibility criteria: Prevalence studies containing

original data. WHO definitions (1992) used for

counterfeit and substandard medicines.

Study appraisal and synthesis: Two reviewers

independently scored study methodology against

recommendations from the MEDQUARG Checklist.

Studies were classified according to the World Bank

classification of countries by income.

Data extraction: Data extracted: place of study; type

of drugs sampled; sample size; percentage of

substandard/counterfeit medicines; formulations

included; origin of the drugs; chemical analysis and

stated issues of counterfeit/substandard medicines.

Results: 44 prevalence studies were identified, 15 had

good methodological quality. They were conducted in

25 different countries; the majority were in low-income

countries (11) and/or lower middle-income countries

(10). The median prevalence of substandard/counterfeit

medicines was 28.5% (range 11–48%). Only two

studies differentiated between substandard and

counterfeit medicines. Prevalence data were limited to

antimicrobial drugs (all 15 studies). 13 studies

involved antimalarials, 6 antibiotics and 2 other

medications. The majority of studies (93%) contained

samples with inadequate amounts of active ingredients.

The prevalence of substandard/counterfeit

antimicrobials was significantly higher when purchased

from unlicensed outlets (p<0.000; 95% CI 0.21 to

0.32). No individual data about the prevalence in upper

middle-income countries and high-income countries

were available.

Limitations: Studies with strong methodology were

few. The majority did not differentiate between

substandard and counterfeit medicines. Most studies

assessed only a single therapeutic class of

antimicrobials.

Conclusions: The prevalence of poor-quality

antimicrobial medicines is widespread throughout

Africa and Asia in lower income countries and lower

middle-income countries . The main problem identified

was inadequate amounts of the active ingredients.

Item Type:	Article
Schools/Departments:	University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Medicine > Division of Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002923
Depositing User:	de Sousa, Mrs Shona
Date Deposited:	03 Apr 2014 13:39
Last Modified:	08 May 2020 11:01
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/2845

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