Street Medicines: The Poison That Kills

Abidjan: The Largest Market for Fake Medicines in West Africa

In the heart of Abidjan, within the alleys of Roxy—the largest market for counterfeit medicines in West Africa—thousands of tablets are piled up.

A true scourge, street medicines are sold en masse: according to the WHO, falsified treatments against malaria caused the deaths of approximately 150,000 African children under the age of five in 2013.

What are these? Counterfeit products (overdosed, underdosed, or containing other substances) or medicines diverted from the legal distribution circuit and stored without respecting sanitary rules. Yet, in the affected countries, the risks remain poorly known.

Developing Countries Particularly Affected

The WHO estimates that one in ten medicines worldwide is falsified, and one in four in developing countries, according to its latest report dated 31/01/2018.

Distribution Circuit: Enhanced Traceability with Meditect

Another UPSA initiative to secure the distribution of its products, especially in West Africa: a partnership with the Bordeaux-based startup Meditect.

Founded in 2018, this rapidly growing young company offers an innovative digital solution to strengthen medicine traceability using blockchain technology.

By scanning the QR code on the packaging with a mobile device, pharmacists and patients can verify the authenticity and distribution stages of the product. This is a giant step towards reinforcing the legal distribution circuit and, hopefully, eradicating the scourge of street medicines.

The application is currently deployed in over 400 partner pharmacies in Côte d’Ivoire (figures as of September 2020). Through this partnership, UPSA goes far beyond simply providing medicines and commits to supporting pharmacists and patients in securing and properly using medicines.

Following a successful pilot in Côte d’Ivoire with one of our pain relief specialties, we will soon extend this system to other Francophone African countries and other medicines.