Chinese Medicine Manufacturer Steps Up To Ensure Patient Safety

Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturer Guilin Pharmaceuticals is rolling out SMS-text message codes on packaging to ensure authenticity of its antimalarial medication in Nigeria.

Guilin’s artesunate meets world-wide quality assurance standards and has been pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Prequalification Programme applies unified standards of quality, safety and efficacy to medicinal products and includes manufacturing inspections, and evaluation of ingredients. Though the program is mainly used by UNAIDS and UNICEF to guide procurement, other agencies use it as a guide to determine safety at an international level, reports the WHO.

Now, purchasers of the medication can guard against purchasing counterfeit versions by scratching off a hidden identification code on drug packages.  Patients can send the code via text message to a computer that will send back a safety message if the package is authentic, reports The Financial Times.

Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturer Guilin Pharmaceuticals is rolling out SMS-text message codes on packaging to ensure authenticity of its antimalarial medication in Nigeria.

Guilin’s artesunate meets world-wide quality assurance standards and has been pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Prequalification Programme applies unified standards of quality, safety and efficacy to medicinal products and includes manufacturing inspections, and evaluation of ingredients. Though the program is mainly used by UNAIDS and UNICEF to guide procurement, other agencies use it as a guide to determine safety at an international level, reports the WHO.

Now, purchasers of the medication can guard against purchasing counterfeit versions by scratching off a hidden identification code on drug packages.  Patients can send the code via text message to a computer that will send back a safety message if the package is authentic, reports The Financial Times.

The service will be available to 50 million mobile subscribers in Nigeria.  Eventually the program is expected to expand across Africa. Guilin has partnered with mPedigree Network, a West African company started by Ghanaian Bright Simons, reports The Ghana Business News.  A competing collaboration between Sproxil and Bharti Airtel also helps legitimate pharmaceutical manufacturers provide a method of drug authentication that can be done on the consumer level, reports The Financial Times.

Guilin plans to expand the use of the technology across Africa.  After Guilin begins its new roll out, Watson Global Pharmaceuticals will also begin using mPedigree Network’s service for both antimalarial and antibiotic drugs, reports The Financial Times.

Simons told The Financial Times, “Given how quickly China is building a market-share in the global south pharmaceutical trade, this could represent a seismic shift in the fake medicines situation. My view is that other Chinese groups will also start to come to terms with the problem.”