WHO warns of fake medicine dangers

Up to 25 percent of medicines consumed in developing countries - often to treat life-threatening conditions such as HIV/AIDS - are believed to be counterfeit or substandard, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. WHO is currently coordinating a regional crackdown on substandard and counterfeit medicines in Hanoi, Viet Nam, after a similar initiative in Africa. During the launch of the southeast Asia campaign, WHO warned that fake drugs were on the rise world wide, and posed a growing threat to international health. The Director-General of WHO, Dr LEE Jong-wook, said in a statement: "Combating low-quality or illegal medicines is now more important than ever. Expanding access to safe, effective treatment for HIV/AIDS and other illnesses is no longer an option, it is an imperative." A survey conducted by WHO between January 1999 and October 2000 found that 60 percent of fake medicines were found in developing countries, while 40 percent occurred in industrialised nations.