On World Diabetes Day, CFAO reminds us that only pharmacies and hospitals are authorized to dispense safe, high-quality treatments.
In Africa, diabetes could affect 55 million people by 2045, which is a 129% increase since 2022 and the highest rate of increase worldwide. (Source: WHO)
This complex chronic disease requires lifelong management, combining medication and medical devices. Faced with the often-high cost of these treatments, many patients turn to parallel networks, such as informal markets, street vendors, and the internet.
Falsified medicines proliferate in these illicit channels. For example, if insulin is falsified and improperly stored (at the wrong temperature), it can lose all its effectiveness and even endanger patients’ lives.
In our white paper “Securing the medicine distribution network in Africa” co-authored with the OPALS Foundation, we call for:
– easier access to quality medicines
– at a fair and affordable price
– in a certified establishment
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