Nayanah Siva | 19 Nov 2010 | The Lancet
The black market in counterfeit drugs is worth billions, but it does untold damage to the health of the poorest populations. Nayanah Siva reports on international efforts to tackle the problem.
Last month 45 countries took part in the internet-based campaign Operation Pangea III to tackle online counterfeit drug crime. As a result, regulators recovered thousands of illicit and counterfeit drugs valued at US$2·6 million, 76 people were arrested across the globe, 694 website investigations were opened, and 290 illegal websites have already been shut down. The operation involved several international organisations, including police, customs, national drug regulators, and internet service providers working together.
Operation Pangea III is the third of its kind, and over the past 2 years has aimed to raise awareness about the international black market of counterfeit medication. The head of INTERPOL, who coordinated the operation, lauded the fact that 20 more countries took part in the operation than in 2009, signifying a step towards greater international cooperation against counterfeit drug crime.
None | 11 Nov 2010 | Daily Nation
That malaria is a major health and economic burden in this country in not in doubt, and this may continue to be the case for quite a while. In the past five years, Kenya and the global community have spent huge amounts of money and resources to accelerate efforts to reduce the malaria burden.
Gatonye Gathura | 09 Nov 2010 | Daily Nation
Pharmacists across the country are making massive profits from highly subsidised malaria drugs that are meant to make the treatment more accessible to majority of Kenyans.
Carly Weeks | 25 Oct 2010 | Globe and Mail
The most effective malaria treatment ever discovered was not developed by a team of scientists in a high-tech lab. It was created using a traditional Chinese herbal remedy that had been used to treat illness for hundreds of years.
Oliver Steeds | 01 Oct 2010 | The Independent
Widespread government corruption and theft of anti-malarial drugs is preventing the poorest people in Uganda from receiving treatment for a preventable disease that kills 300 people in the country every day, an investigation has revealed.
Hamis Kaheru | 21 Sep 2010 | Daily Monitor
Findings by the Budget Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Finance have revealed that the majority of people who go to government health centres for malaria drugs are not patients.
Lembit Rägo, Jitka Sabartova & Jacqueline Sawyer | 18 Sep 2010 | The Lancet
Tatum Anderson (May 8, p 1597)1 highlights important elements of the debate surrounding local pharmaceutical production in developing countries.
Martin Okudi | 16 Sep 2010 | Daily Monitor
Police in Moyo are investigating the loss of 46 packets of coartem drugs worth Shs7 million, which went missing under unclear circumstances.
Rama Lakshmi | 11 Sep 2010 | Washington Post
In New Delhi Private investigator Suresh Sati rattled off the popular brand names listed on the boxes of cough syrup, supplements, vitamins and painkillers sprawled across the desk and shelves in his basement office.
Talea Miller | 04 Sep 2010 | PBS NewsHour
Malaria causes about 1 million deaths around the world each year, but not all the medication donated to fight the disease is reaching its intended targets.