Fake drugs: education is as important as control
Editor - I wish to make a few comments
in relation to Jihene El Kafsi and Peter
Raven's article about counterfeit drugs.1
The first is regarding the relationship
between doctors and pharmaceutical
companies. It is common for drug companies to shower doctors with gifts in the
hope they recommend one drug over
another, regardless of the difference in
quality. Counterfeit drugs may exploit this
to easily gain access and dominance in the
market. I think doctors must be cautioned
against drugs that are new and not
adequately tested for safety and quality.
In poor countries, even prescription
drugs are available over the counter, and
many patients have a tendency to medicate themselves without consulting a
doctor. In addition, they usually choose
the cheapest available drug. This allows
for the sale of fake and expired drugs.
That's why education and raising awareness about fake drugs are as important
as strengthening regulations to control
their traffic.
Competing interests: None declared.
Suvash Shrestha, third year medical student, Kathmandu Medical College, Sinamangal
Email: suvash_sht@yahoo.com
studentBMJ 2006;14:309-352 September ISSN 0966-6494
- El Kafsi J, Raven P. Bad medicine. studentBMJ
2006;14:298-300. (July.)
