WHO tries to tackle problem of counterfeit medicines in Asia

Experts from the World Health Organization were in Hanoi this week to discuss ways of tackling the problem of counterfeit medicines with officials from countries in Asia's Mekong delta region. WHO sees the problem of fake or substandard medicines as a serious public health threat in the “greater Mekong subregion,” which includes Vietnam, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Cambodia, China, Myanmar, and Thailand. It hopes that the meetings will kick-start efforts to raise awareness among decision makers, health professionals, and the general public and to strengthen inspection and post-marketing surveillance. Recent WHO estimates suggest that Cambodia has about 2800 illegal medicine sellers and 1000 unregistered medicines …