There is a lack of incentives driving agencies to actively address the problem of counterfeit medicine--some individuals may care enough to risk their jobs by speaking out, but most keep their mouths shut.

Drug shortages have become a serious problem across East Africa; if oversight does not improve, donor largesse may worsen the health situation there.

Some consumers and businesses might see a little extra cash this summer as a result of the 2010 health care law. The Kaiser Family Foundation recently reported an estimated $1.3 billion in rebates will be delivered from health insurers who spent more than the law allotted on administrative expenses and profits.

Abstract

Increased donated and subsidised medicines for malaria are saving countless lives in Africa, but there is probably increasing theft and diversion of those medicines. The impact of medicine diversion is unknown but potentially dangerous and may bolster criminal networks and increase medicine stock outs (1,2). This study demonstrates...

The malaria community has done a great job over the past decade to combat the disease. But this may be about to change.

As more and more of our tax dollars fund drugs for poor nations, criminals are making fortunes off our good will. Out of the 100 million high-quality antimalarial dosages donated to Africa, approximately 30 million are diverted.

If the US withholds funding to the Global Fund, it could lead to major disruptions in the delivery of life-saving medicines. But tolerating the corruption is arguably worse.