Prevalence and Estimated Economic Burden of Substandard and Falsified Medicines in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Substandard and falsified medicines burden health systems by diverting resources to ineffective or harmful therapies, causing medical complications and prolonging illnesses. However, the prevalence and economic impact of poor-quality medicines is unclear.

Objective

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the prevalence and estimated economic burden of substandard and falsified essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries.

Data sources

Five databases (PubMed, EconLit, Global Health, Embase, and Scopus) were searched from inception until November 3, 2017.

Study selection

Publications were assessed to determine whether they examined medicine quality and the prevalence and/or economic burden of substandard and falsified medi

SUBMITTER: Ozawa S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6324280 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature