Falsified Medical Products in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa

By HEOR Staff Writer

October 9, 2023

The Challenges of Substandard Medical Products

Substandard and falsified (SF) medical products pose a significant threat to public health. These products can cause harm, fuel resistance to genuine treatments, and undermine health systems. In Francophone sub-Saharan Africa, SF products are increasingly prevalent, largely due to the limited capacity of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) to fulfil their functions.

Solutions and Initiatives

Several initiatives are helping to combat this issue. The African Union (AU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched the African Medicine Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) Initiative and the African Medicines Agency (AMA). These initiatives aim to strengthen regulation and supply of quality-assured medical products.

The WHO Member State Mechanism is another important initiative, focusing on tackling SF medical products from a public health approach. Unfortunately, no NRAs in French-speaking Africa have yet achieved a maturity level 3. This indicates a stable, well-functioning, and integrated regulatory system. However, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ivory Coast, and Senegal are actively engaged in this process and could progress rapidly.

Academia also plays a crucial role in combating SF medical products. Universities like the University of Senegal Cheikh Anta Diop and the University of Douala in Cameroon have implemented a curriculum guide on SF medical products, educating future specialists and policymakers.

Procurement agencies, such as the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN), have also engaged in surveillance of SF medical products, integrating their data with national post-marketing surveillance of NRAs.

In conclusion, preventing, detecting, and responding to SF medical products remains a challenge in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa. However, through collective efforts and initiatives, progress is being made.

Reference url

Recent Posts

Medical Schemes Affordability Crisis: Insights from the CMS Annual Report 2024/25

By João L. Carapinha

October 31, 2025

The CMS Annual Report 2024/25 highlights significant medical schemes affordability challenges in South Africa, where relevant healthcare expenditure per beneficiary surged by 8.70% year-on-year, far outpacing both contribution growth and general inflation. Solvency ratios have declined for three ...
Barriers to African Pharmaceutical Growth: Navigating Regulatory and Procurement Challenges

By João L. Carapinha

October 30, 2025

African Pharmaceutical Growth remains stifled by significant barriers, as highlighted in a recent plenary address at the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) 2025 (reported by Health Policy Watch). Dr. Stavros Nicolaou, group senior executive for strategic trade at Aspen Pharmacare and c...
Aligning Medical Schemes with National Health Insurance South Africa
The National Health Insurance initiative in South Africa is advancing toward universal health coverage, and the recent CMS Annual Report 2024/25 highlighted the regulator's pivotal role in supporting this framework by integ...