The spike in fake vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 was a reminder of the vulnerability of our medicine supply chains.
But even before the pandemic, substandard medicines – those that do not contain the right ingredients to be effective – were a problem in every region of the world.
“Patients taking medication should be able to count on two things. First, the medication will contain the active ingredient in the dosage claimed on the label. Second, that the medication is free of contamination or adulteration and was stored properly before it was given to you,” says C. Michael White, distinguished professor and chair, pharmacy practice, at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy.
