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Ten percent of
medicines in developed nations and twenty percent in undeveloped nations
are placebos. Counterfeit medications are taking a major hand in
unnecessary health risks around the globe. Medication systems for
nations suffering from outbreaks in AIDS, malaria, and various diseases
contractible by humans are vulnerable to the corrupt business of
counterfeiting necessary medicines.
Around the globe,
nations have attempted to cut off the illicit trafficking of counterfeit
drugs. However, the absence of an international policy to bind
information from country to country remains a major ally of the
counterfeit drug industry. It is estimated that 200,000 people die from
malaria due to the fatal placebos given and the lack of global unity on
the subject.
Singapore is highly
concerned with the counterfeit medicine industry. A number of
Singaporeans are involved with exporting and importing counterfeit
medicines from around the world and especially importing from
neighboring nations, such as Malaysia and Indonesia. The 1975 Singapore
Medicines Act lists requirements of drugs to protect national health.
The Singapore Association of Pharmaceutical Industries and the Singapore
Medical Association are continuing an education program to warn the
public about the dangers of counterfeit medications, as well.
On the Pacific coast,
the Philippine government launched a coalition of private drug companies
and public institutions to fight the war against fake medication.
Australia also supports combined efforts by funding drug-tracking
systems for Southeast Asian countries. Similarly, the United Nations has
made an International Drug Monitoring Program with medicine regulations
for the global community. According to Dr. Arata Kochi of WHO’s Malaria
Department, “We
[in the United Nations] are concerned about decreased sensitivity to the
drug in southeast Asia…”
Singapore supports the continued efforts of the global community and the United
Nations to educate the public, enforce counterfeit medication laws,
prosecute counterfeit industry criminals, and develop an international
drug tracking system.
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