- 2 min read
Key findings include1:
- An overall prevalence of 22.6% for substandard or falsified medicines.
- Additionally, 6% of medicines sampled were found to be unregistered or unlicensed in the respective countries.
- The most commonly reported substandard, falsified, and unregistered medicines were antibiotics (44.6%), antimalarial medicines (15.6%), antihypertensive medicines (16.3%), and anthelmintic/antiprotozoal medicines (60.7%).
The circulation of poor-quality medicines poses severe risks for patients and healthcare providers alike, including treatment failures, the development of drug resistance, and increased morbidity and mortality. According to World Health Organization estimates, hundreds of thousands of deaths in sub-Saharan Africa are linked to ineffective or harmful medicines every year2.
In light of these findings, Denk Pharma reaffirms its long-standing commitment to pharmceuticals “Made in Germany” and patient safety. All Denk Pharma products are manufactured strictly according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines, batch-tested by certified laboratories, and fully licensed by relevant health authorities, such as EMA, BfArM, Government of Upper Bavaria and the individual authorities in every market where they are sold.
“We have always prioritized the safety and trust of healthcare professionals and patients,” says Tarja Neuwirth, Chief Operating Officer at Denk Pharma. “This new study demonstrates once again how critical it is to ensure medicines meet the strict standards of quality, efficacy, and regulatory compliance. Our purpose is to provide doctors and pharmacists with reliable products that patients can trust—no matter where they live.”
Denk Pharma invites journalists and editors of scientific journals from Uganda, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and other African countries to join an upcoming webinar on this topic. The event will take place on 10th July at 11:00 AM (UTC) and will offer insights into the study’s findings, as well as practical guidance on how verified, high-quality medicines can help safeguard patient health. Register via this link: denk-connected.de
About Denk Pharma
Denk Pharma is a German pharmaceutical company focused on the international export of premium-quality medicines. For over 75 years, the Denk Pharma name has stood for trusted pharmaceuticals “Made in Germany”, distributed in more than 80 countries worldwide. We are committed to strict treatment standards for the health of our patients, therefore our products are manufactured according to rigorous GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) guidelines, undergo stringent quality testing, and are continuously monitored to meet international safety and efficacy requirements.
Press contact:
Alessandra Knorr
Corporate Communications
+49 89 230 67 0
presse@denkpharma.de
Denk Pharma GmbH & Co. KG
www.denkpharma.com
Key References:
1 Asrade Mekonnen, B., Getie Yizengaw, M. & Chanie Worku, M. Prevalence of substandard, falsified, unlicensed and unregistered medicine and its associated factors in Africa: a systematic review. J Pharm Policy Pract 17, 2375267 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1080/20523211.2024.2375267
2 United Nations. Fake medicines kill almost 500,000 sub-Saharan Africans a year: UNODC report. UN News (2023). Retrieved from https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/02/1133062.
