Political Commitment and Governance in Combating Substandard and Falsified Medical Products in Resource‐Limited Settings

Substandard and falsified (SF) medical products remain a persistent public health threat in resource‐limited settings. Despite the availability of technical tools for prevention, detection, and response, the burden of poor‐quality medical products remains disproportionately high in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). This commentary argues that sustained political commitment and effective governance, rather than technical capacity alone, are central in combating SF medical products. Drawing on evidence from global surveillance data, systematic reviews, and recent national policy responses, the commentary examines how political prioritization and governance shape and sustain regulatory operations, legal enforcement, workforce investment, financing, and multi‐sectoral coordination. Countries that embed medical product quality within national health and development agendas, establish independent regulatory authorities, and promote cross‐border cooperation tend to demonstrate more consistent and sustainable control of medical product quality, even under resource constraints. In contrast, fragmented mandates, weak enforcement, and inconsistent political leadership limit the impact of otherwise sound technical interventions. The analysis further highlights that technologies such as screening devices and track‐and‐trace systems are most effective when deployed within robust legal and institutional frameworks that are actively supported by political leadership. The commentary concludes by outlining policy‐relevant priorities for governments and regulators, including strengthening regulatory governance, institutionalizing national action plans, ensuring accountability across sectors, and integrating medical product quality assurance into broader public health strategies. Addressing SF medical products therefore requires political commitment and governance that translate technical solutions into durable, accountable, and system‐level actions.