Falsified Medicines: Literature review

Abstract

In order to understand the global phenomenon of falsified medicines, this literature review is conducted as a pilot study to identify knowledge gaps and deliver insights for further research. The emergence and prevalence of falsified medicines take on different forms between developing and developed nations due to political, economic, social and cultural factors, yet studies from social, historical, cultural and ethical perspectives are rare. Empirical studies on consumers’ healthcare seeking behaviours and coping strategies such as the purchase of medicines from unknown, informal or extralegal sources, as well as on if/how healthcare professionals follow up patients who experience unusual lack of medical efficacy, are lacking. Inter-disciplinary research is urgently needed.