Effects Of Counterfeit Drugs On The Most Vulnerable Populations

Counterfeit drugs mostly affect vulnerable sections of society due to their social and economic conditions. In a recently published research article in the Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Shambhu Sarkar, a pharmaceutical serialization specialist, explained how drug counterfeiting is a leading cause of death in children and elderly populations. They mostly die from low-potency drugs, counterfeit vaccines, and antibiotics given to them to treat infections and chronic diseases like hepatitis, yellow fever, meningitis, and pneumonia. Vulnerable populations experience greater health risks than the general population as a consequence of significant exposure to risk factors for disease.

In this article, Shambhu Sarkar also described why pharmaceutical drug counterfeiting is a serious problem that has an impact on global healthcare systems and the health of vulnerable people in society. Most vulnerable people may experience dire consequences and unfavorable ramifications as a result of their vulnerability. A lack of health literacy, or the ability to understand and apply basic medical knowledge, has crippled the most vulnerable people in society.?

In countries where the healthcare system or government does not offer state-funded health insurance for free or when the population does not have enough health insurance coverage to pay for it, the market for counterfeit drugs is expanding significantly among patients with chronic diseases.

Shambhu Sarkar has pointed out that many vulnerable populations in the world cannot afford the treatment of some deadly diseases since they have limited insurance coverage or no access to health insurance.As a result of their insurance status or the financial burden of their treatment costs, they avoid treatment or skip regular dosages. Their situation provides an opportunity for drug counterfeiters or criminals to lure them with their attractive prices. These vulnerable people fall into the trap and purchase medication from these unreliable sources without verifying their legitimacy.

According to Shambhu Sarkar, the governments and regulators in many nations must ensure that their citizens are receiving authentic medications. Government investment on the health sector is a defining feature of the current healthcare system scenario worldwide. The issue of medication fraud is still growing, particularly in Asia and Africa, despite the numerous restrictions that several countries have put in place.

Shambhu Sarkar also notes that the essential medicines, such as antibiotics or antivirals, needs a doctor’s prescription. Due to a lack of awareness, some people use the internet to search for and buy medications that would require a prescription. This is a vulnerable area, as many online pharmacies are fraudulent and sell counterfeit medicines to these people without a prescription. Globally, most people use the internet for social media platforms, chatting, and online shopping, including purchasing medications. When vulnerable people are diagnosed with some critical condition, they tend to search for treatment and medicine on the web. Most search engines, and other websites uses algorithmic method to track all browsing activities and search histories. It generates a list of comparable products using the complete user's data, including accessed web pages, duration on page etc. Criminals use a variety of online social media sites to advertise low prices, offer speedy delivery, and provide freebies in an effort to get individuals to buy fake medications. Customers are initially unaffected by these promos. When a user actively searches for medication, these dark web platforms offer drug-related fraudulent advertisements in their feeds and searches. Further, it encourages them to buy fake medicine by lowering their cognitive ability to get medicine from authentic sources.

Shambhu Sarkar finally concluded that, in order to address these socioeconomic determinants of health, healthcare providers must take a number of proactive measures, such as screening patients. The government and healthcare industries must make investments more strategically so that the most vulnerable people in society can get healthcare services that are accessible and affordable. If these people struggle with government schemes, neither health insurance nor medical advancements can save their lives.

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