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Combating Medical Drug Counterfeit in Tanzania: The Role of Technology

Alloys Mvuma, Anthony Faustine, Deo Shao, Hassan Seif, Rukia Mwifunyi and Steven Edward

Abstract

The infiltration of Counterfeit Drugs (CDs) in the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain (PSC) is adversely affecting health sectors in their efforts to provide quality health services to the public. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 30 percent of anti-malaria drugs sold in the developing countries are substandard. Furthermore, the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) estimated that 60 percent of the medicines imported into Tanzania are counterfeits. Several initiatives have been taken in an attempt to curb the selling of CDs. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives remains questionable. There is an urgent need to formulate more effective strategies to secure the PSC by involving all stakeholders. In this regard, technology-based solution could be an effective uptake in mitigating CDs. This study assesses how the technology-based system can secure PSC and enable medical drugs verification in Tanzania. The proven adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), especially mobile technology, could be leveraged to enable the enforcement of laws and regulations and advocate community awareness on medical safety.

Keyword – Counterfeit drugs, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical supply chain.      

Proceedings of The 1st COTUL Scientific Conference Held On 25th – 28th November 2014