Recent examples of fake drugs include neomycin eye drops and
meningococcal vaccine made of tap water; paracetamol syrup made
of industrial solvent; and contraceptive pills made of wheat
flour. Some counterfeit drugs even contain actively harmful
ingredients, not just bogus placebos. Death and illness arising
from this murderous trade are considerable, especially in
developing countries, say the authors. Guidelines have been
produced, but most developing countries do not have the
infrastructure and financial resources to implement them. In the
past, drug companies have tended to avoid publicising the
problem for fear of damaging public confidence in medicines.
Some countries, well aware of the scale of their problem, have
preferred to ignore it, they add. Much of the counterfeit drug
trade is probably linked to organised crime, corruption, the
narcotics trade, unregulated pharmaceutical companies, and the
business interests of unscrupulous politicians, say the authors.
Much greater international political will