Corrupt pharmaceuticals
Corruption in the pharmaceutical industry: WHO dataWeekly "Pharmacy" based on materials www.who.int
In December 2009, the WHO newsletter "Medicines: Corruption in the pharmaceutical industry" was published.
As noted in the document, access to medical care and essential medicines is necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life. Medicines are beneficial only when they are safe, of high quality, properly distributed among patients and properly used by them. However, in the modern world, there are factors caused by corruption that reduce the availability of effective and safe medicines for patients.
The drug distribution chain consists of links necessary for the creation, regulation, management and consumption of pharmaceuticals. Corruption in the pharmaceutical industry exists in all links of this chain – from research and development to distribution and sales promotion. Unethical practices throughout the chain can manifest themselves in various forms, such as falsification of factual data, improper management of conflicts of interest or bribery.
Every year, 4.1 trillion US dollars are spent on healthcare worldwide, of which 750 billion is spent on the global pharmaceutical market. At the same time, from 10 to 25% of public procurement expenses (including drug purchases) are lost due to corruption. The presence of numerous links in the provision of medicines leads to the emergence of many cases of unethical practices. Countries with weak governance in all parts of the drug distribution chain are more susceptible to corruption. They lack proper legislation or regulation of drug treatment, mechanisms to enforce laws, regulations and administrative procedures, as well as conflict of interest management. Lack of transparency and accountability throughout the chain can also contribute to corruption.
There are at least three main areas of negative impact of corruption in the drug supply chain.
- Negative impact on patients. Unethical practices lead to reduced access to medicines in medical institutions due to their leakage, as well as unsafe or ineffective drugs entering the market. Drugs seized from medical institutions, falsified and not conforming to standards, as well as illegally registered drugs are detected both in rich and poor countries. This practice leads to the suffering of patients and poses a direct threat to their lives.
- Lost resources. Corruption leads to the loss of a huge amount of limited public health resources. For example, fraud and abuse in the field of health care cost individual governments of developed countries $12-23 billion. per year. In developing countries, there is a leakage of purchased funds and current expenses in the amount of up to 89%.
- Corruption strikes another blow by undermining public and donor confidence in State institutions. In some countries, the public health system is perceived as the most corrupt institution in the State apparatus. In addition, corruption in the field of public procurement of medicines has become a threat to the withdrawal of donor funds in some low-income countries.
The document notes that WHO is committed to reducing corruption as part of its Good Governance for Medicines (GGM) Program, which has been in operation since 2004. By applying transparent accountable administrative procedures and promoting ethical practices, GGM provides support to countries in the fight against corruption. This program helps countries to conduct a three-step procedure to assess their vulnerability to corruption, as well as to develop and implement special programs to maintain effective health systems that are not undermined by corruption.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru11.01.2010