Which interventions are effective in combatting or preventing drug counterfeiting?

Drug counterfeiting is widespread globally, including in low- and middle-income countries. Counterfeit medicines may include medicines with the wrong ingredients, without active ingredients, with insufficient active ingredients or with fake packaging. Counterfeit drugs need to be distinguished from substandard drugs - the latter refers to genuine medicines that failed to meet certain quality specifications. Interventions to combat drug counterfeiting can broadly be categorized into laws and regulations, technological innovations and quality control and vigilance.