Mekong Region

The decreasing effectiveness of antimalarial, antituberculosis, antibacterial, and antiretroviral medicines in the countries along the Mekong River Basin has prompted USAID, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Roll Back Malaria Initiative (RBM), and USP DQI to examine drug quality as an important contributing factor to resistance. Collaborating with several Ministries of Health (MoH) and health-related organizations throughout the region, USP DQI focuses its efforts on improving the quality and quality control of these medicines, contributing to the long-term goal of increasing treatment efficacy, reducing drug resistance, and maximizing the use of healthcare resources. USP DQI provides ongoing technical assistance as well as laboratory and computer training and equipment.

Changes are emerging as a result of the USP DQI Antimalarial Monitoring Project in the Mekong Region. Findings  (114KB) from drug quality testing in participating countries revealed counterfeits circulating in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Yunnan Province of China  (128KB). Drug regulatory authorities in those countries have taken quick and aggressive action to deal with the problem locally, nationally, and regionally. In most cases, law enforcement agencies confiscated or recalled the counterfeit products and took legal action against the sellers. Cambodia is waging an educational campaign to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and the general public on the dangers of using fake drugs.