The Country Director of PharmAccess, Dr Maxwell Antwi, has disclosed that more than a quarter of the total medicines sold in the country are either fake or substandard.
According to him, the effects of these substandard drugs have had a toll on the African continent, as 100,000 lives have been lost.
“An estimated 30% of medicines in Ghana are fake or substandard, leading to treatment failures, negative side effects, antimicrobial resistances and spread of diseases and unnecessary deaths.
“Do we know that the fake medicines market is worth over €400 billion, which is more profitable than narcotics? Do we know that 100,000 deaths happen on the African continent due to fake and substandard medicine?” he quizzed.
Speaking at an event held to finance Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) facilities on the Med4all platform in Accra, he noted that Ghana ranks number six of countries with the highest burden of fake medicines in a report by the European Union (EU).
Narrowing down his report, Dr Maxwell Antwi further revealed a study carried out in Kintampo of the Bono East Region showed that four out of ten medicines sold in the town are either fake or substandard.
“Another study on anti-malaria in Ghana showed that 13 out of 14 tested antimycin-based anti-malaria contain either an overdose or another dose,” he added.
Aside these revelations, the health Director bemoaned the high cost of some drugs being sold in the country.
This, he said, will be borne by the final consumer and not health institutions, although the high cost of medicines will also have a toll on healthcare facilities.
“The price of penicillin in Ghana is seven times that on the NHS in the UK. While this has negative implications for Healthcare facilities and legitimate pharmaceutical manufacturers and suppliers, it is patients in Ghana who pay the ultimate price,” he said.
Latest Stories
-
Baby abandoned in manhole in Tema Community 1
7 mins -
We’ll establish fiscal council to rein in excessive borrowing – Finance Minister
13 mins -
Mortuary workers issue fresh strike threat
17 mins -
‘Lapses in banking system are not unique’ – John Awuah on managing fraud in Ghana’s Banks
25 mins -
Bawumia confident of victory in 2024 election
59 mins -
Strengthening audit institutions essential for tackling fiscal mismanagement – Domelevo
1 hour -
Healthy Aging: The Role of the Gut Microbiome and How Diet Can Help
1 hour -
Seek medical care, diagnosis for breast cancer – Dr Abiti to women
1 hour -
Hardship: Men now collect marriage list from different families to get cheapest – Report
1 hour -
‘If you’re looking for trouble, you’ll get it,’ Falz tells VeryDarkMan
1 hour -
Paramount Chief of Avenor grateful to NPP, calls for completion of Agenda 111 project
2 hours -
Bawumia commissions ultramodern office complex for Ho Municipal Assembly
2 hours -
Bawumia declares NPP’s infrastructure record unmatched
2 hours -
Importers face duty on Electric Vehicles despite gov’t’s exemption promises
2 hours -
4 additional Democracy Hub protesters discharged
2 hours