Hypertension and cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality globally, and Africa is no exception. However, Africa is an exception to some rules; it has a fast-growing population, many regions are getting out of the clutches of poverty, education rates are increasing. However, the problems of fake drugs remain significant in the region.

The significant problem of fake drugs in Africa

As Africa progresses economically, it has been finding it challenging to tackle the problem of fake and sub-standard drugs. It is estimated that the global market for counterfeit medicines is at about $200bn, and almost half of the fake medicines are sold in Africa.

Falsified drugs have many ill effects, like they contain toxic substances causing poisoning. These drugs also encourage drug resistance and drive poor compliance by the patients. However, as chronic ailments like hypertension and cardiovascular diseases rise in Africa, fake drugs compromise the treatment, resulting in a considerably higher mortality rate from chronic ailments.

One of the issues with fake drugs is that it remains a poorly identified problem. As a result, a large number of cases of harm caused by fake drugs go unreported. Adverse health problems such as injury, disability, paralysis, complications and treatment failure are prevalent aftermaths.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime established that fake drugs are responsible for several deaths. For instance, ‘the intake of counterfeit anti-malaria drugs alone takes the lives of more than 700,000 Africans yearly’ according to dated NAFDAC News.

It is worth understanding that estimating deaths due to poorly controlled hypertension is even more challenging due to the chronic nature of the condition.

Changing face of hypertension and cardiovascular issues in Africa

Cardiovascular problems are related deaths are increasing in Africa. This trend will continue in the future due to the region’s economic development and the associated decline in infectious diseases.

Researchers think Africa is now moving away from the first stage when cardiovascular conditions were mainly caused due to malnutrition and infectious diseases. As the per capita income rises in African nations like Nigeria, Ghana, and others, the public health system improves, the presentation of cardiovascular ailments is also changing.

People in Africa, quite like their western counterparts, are now more likely to develop hypertension due to metabolic disorders, lifestyle issues, dyslipidemia, and other non-infectious causes. Africa is definitely entering another and different phase of cardiovascular issues.

Gradually, poorly controlled hypertension is becoming the major contributor to cardiovascular ailments. It is now estimated that one-third of people in Nigeria are living with hypertension. What is worrying is the sudden rise of hypertension in the last 25 years, with some estimates showing more than a 500% increase.

A higher prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular issues would need greater access to high-quality medications. If the problem of fake medicines remains uncontrolled, it will continue to cause considerable mortality in the region.

How fake drugs are making the epidemic of hypertension worse

Studies are already emerging showing that fake drugs are making this epidemic of hypertension worse. As per one estimate, poorly controlled hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa is causing at least 250,000 preventable deaths annually.

Moreover, studies show that hypertension remains poorly controlled even in population groups with excellent access to health care and good adherence to anti-hypertensive drugs. Researchers think that one of the leading causes of poorly controlled hypertension in those with good adherence to drug therapy is the problem of fake or sub-standard medications.

To conclude, as Africa makes economic progress, the prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular issues will increase. Thus, there is an urgent need to counter the severe problem of fake drugs in the region responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality.

The need for innovative technologies like Validproof to combat fake drugs . The impact is far reaching and almost every drug has a counterfeit that currently circulate in parallel within many countries. In addition to fake drugs there is also a significant amount of incidents related to expired drugs still sitting on the shelves in pharmacies.

References

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3. 2021–05–28 falsified meds west africa ccpcj. Accessed January 30, 2022. https://www.unodc.org/westandcentralafrica/en/2021-05-28-falsified-meds-west-africa-ccpcj.html

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