Media Reports on Medicines Quality - US Pharmacopeial Convention

South Africa
Antib-4
(pyrazinamide,
ethambutol,
isoniazid, and
rifampicin) and
Ebsar (isoniazid and
rifampicin)
Painkillers (Grand-
Pa powders)
$1,148,000) worth of fake drugs at Bomeh waste dumping site
at Kingtom.
A spokesman for the Medical Controls Council said that
counterfeit medicines and pharmaceutical products make up 2-
10% of the South African market, and ten cases have been
reported to authorities.
Health authorities withdrew two generic drugs used to treat
tuberculosis because of concerns of quality. After being in
storage, two combination drugs – Antib-4 and Ebsar – did not
contain the appropriate levels of active pharmaceutical
ingredients as stated on their labels.
Counterfeit goods—including medicines as well as clothing,
cosmetics, and other goods––worth R20m (USD $2,544,000)
were seized during a raid in Bellville, Cape Town.
GlaxoSmithKline is recalling some of its over-the-counter
headache medicine, Grand-Pa Powders, after counterfeit
versions were discovered by police.
South Sudan The regional government of Southern Sudan is warning
customers that fake medicines have flooded the market.
According to a senior pharmacist at the Military Hospital in
Juba, about 90% of medicines sold in South Sudan are
counterfeit.
Swaziland Health Minister Benedict Xaba announced that two health bills
will be read in Parliament in April. The bills lay down
guidelines for drug procurement to avoid counterfeits and also
will make it possible to establish a medicine regulatory
authority.
machine…Le5b worth of fake drugs set ablaze at
Bomeh. Awoko. Apr 16, 2012. Available at:
www.awoko.org Accessed Apr 16, 2012
Mtyala, Q. Trade in fake goods costing South
Africa R2bn. Business Report. May 14, 2009.
Available at: www.busrep.co.za Accessed May
15, 2009
Sidley, P. South Africa withdraws TB drugs
because of quality concerns. British Medical
Journal. August 20, 2008. Available at:
www.bmj.com Accessed May 27, 2009
Counterfeit goods worth R20m seized. News 24.
Mar 23, 2012. Available at: www.news24.com
Accessed Mar 29, 2012
Fake drugs leads to GSK recalls in SAfrica.
Reuters. Jul 27, 2012. Available at:
www.in.reuters.com Accessed Jul 27, 2012
South Sudan combats sale of counterfeit drugs.
Sudan Tribune. Aug 9, 2010. Available at:
www.sudantribune.com Accessed Aug 9, 2010
90% drugs sold in South Sudan are fake,
announces health official. Sudan Radio Service.
February 8, 2012. Available at
www.sudanradio.org Accessed Feb 9, 2012
Albert, A. Swaziland aims to stamp out sham
medicine. Supply Management Daily. Mar 29,
2012. Available at: www.supplymanagement.com
Accessed Mar 29, 2012
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