who we are
Medicines for Africa is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to improve access to quality and safe medications in African countries. We are a team of high-level professionals with expertise ranging from medicines quality assurance and testing to health policy and diplomacy. We support buyers of medicines to strengthen their quality management systems, detection capabilities, and product tracing systems in order to secure the supply chain and prevent counterfeited medical products. We also work with healthcare and regulatory affairs professionals.
increasing awareness of Counterfeit medicinesCounterfeit medicines are a multi-billion dollar business worth 65-200 bn USD per year, with around 40% of all detected cases being on the African continent. Battling this problem requires increasing awareness about counterfeited and substandard medicines and how they erode patient health. |
Strengthening supply chains and product tracingHaving a supply chain where medical products are traceable and distributed and stored according to best practices is critical to preventing the entry of counterfeits and rapidly detecting and recalling them when they do enter the supply chain. We work on diverse aspects of supply chain security and product traceability. |
training of professionals in counterfeitsThose working in the medicines supply chain and at the frontlines of healthcare are in a critical position to detect and mitigate against counterfeit medicines. Regulatory professionals in turn create an environment that is resistant against counterfeited medicines. Our programs support these key professionals to reach their goals. |
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MISSION
Our mission is to improve access to quality medicines in African countries by supporting diverse key players in the healthcare workforce, governments, and supply chain with tools and approaches required to strengthen the supply chain and detect and mitigate against counterfeit medicines. VISION Our vision is to make safe medicines of assured quality the norm in African countries. This means making them consistently available where and when they are needed so that no one has to lose their life from taking counterfeited medicines CORE BELIEF Access to medicines should not be just about making medicines available as cheaply as possible but to also ensure that the available medicines are safe and effective. Because of this core belief we initiate new efforts and support ongoing ones to ensure the quality of medicines reaching the patient. |
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The problem
Counterfeit substandard medical products are a threat to the health, safety and wellbeing of patients on the African continent and around the world. These can be products with no active ingredients, too little or too much active ingredients, or that may contain dangerous impurities that could cause harm or death. They can be mimics of branded drugs, generic or over-the-counter medications. The crime of counterfeiting thrives in countries where the anti-counterfeiting laws are weak with ineffective legal sanctions and national medicines regulatory agencies that are stretched and underfunded.
OUR GOAL Our social purpose is to prevent more than a million people dying from taking counterfeited medicines and people spending US$30 billion on medical products that fail to treat them, drive microbial resistance and cause disability. |
THE rising incidence of counterfeited medicines
According to the WHO, in 2020, the threat of substandard and counterfeited medical products was identified as one of the urgent global challenges of this decade. That has grown exponentially with the ever-increasing demand for medical products including vaccines and medical devices including in vitro diagnostic medical device (IvDs). In the African context, it is exacerbated by huge unmet medical needs, high cost of medicines and frequent medicines shortages. In 2017, World Health Organization (WHO) conservatively estimated that 1 in every 10 medicines in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) was substandard or falsified, and over US$ 30 billion was spent annually on such medical products.
strategies and solutions
There are known strategies to prevent, detect and respond to counterfeit and substandard medical products. However, for most countries, implementing these requires awareness, political commitment, investment of resources, developing capacity and multi-stakeholder collaboration and partnership. Efforts to control these products are currently sporadic.
In addition, many professionals and patients on the African continent and around the globe are not sufficiently aware of the grave threat of fake medicines on their health and wellbeing. Limited awareness of the magnitude of the problem amongst patients and healthcare professionals is a major enabler of counterfeited substandard medicines businesses. The same applies to limited awareness amongst supply chain partners.
In addition, many professionals and patients on the African continent and around the globe are not sufficiently aware of the grave threat of fake medicines on their health and wellbeing. Limited awareness of the magnitude of the problem amongst patients and healthcare professionals is a major enabler of counterfeited substandard medicines businesses. The same applies to limited awareness amongst supply chain partners.
"Medicines for Africa is the partner of choice when addressing counterfeited medical products in African countries" |
Medicines for Africa has been campaigning to raise awareness and to educate various stakeholders on prevention and detection of counterfeit medicines and how to protect patient safety. Our campaigns aim to equip professionals and patients with the knowledge and tools to help avoid the threat of fake medications and protect their health and well-being.
We also work with National Regulatory Authorities (NRA) who are responsible for ensuring the safety, efficacy and quality of medical products placed on the market in their jurisdiction. Medicines for Africa is the partner of choice when addressing counterfeited medical products in countries.
We also work with National Regulatory Authorities (NRA) who are responsible for ensuring the safety, efficacy and quality of medical products placed on the market in their jurisdiction. Medicines for Africa is the partner of choice when addressing counterfeited medical products in countries.
We constantly monitor and analyze the African healthcare and medicines landscape and publish our latest thinking in our Utano newsletter. Please subscribe and stay up to date of what is happening in the African medicines domain and what we think should be done about it.