Present in every region of the world, they circulate on informal markets — street markets, itinerant sales, illegal online sales — but can also infiltrate legitimate supply chains and distribution channels, including healthcare facilities, pharmacies and hospitals.
They can be sold at low prices, at the same price as authentic products or sometimes at a higher price to reinforce their appearance of legitimacy and buyer confidence.
A medicine is considered fake when its identity, composition or source are deliberately and misleadingly presented. It may contain an incorrect amount of active ingredient, substances different from those declared or no active ingredient at all.
Fake medicines are a global challenge at the intersection of health, security and economic issues.
Key figures
10.5%
95%
40,000+
USD 100–350 bn
400,000–600,000
All types of medicines are affected
All continents are affected
Why does it matter?
Public health
Fake medicines can reduce treatment effectiveness, delay medical care and expose patients to serious consequences.
Crime
They fuel a global criminal market involving organised networks, international financial flows and supply-chain infiltration mechanisms.
Economic risks
Impacts affect companies, health systems and states: financial losses, reputational damage, operational disruption and associated costs.
System vulnerabilities
Fake medicines thrive where vulnerabilities grow: shortages, price pressures, grey markets, online purchasing and lack of supply-chain visibility.
