Having worked on the fake medicines issue for a number of years, it came as a surprise that the issue is reaching the mainstream, which is what happened at London’s Chatham House recently when the issue of poor quality medicines was presented to an audience of international affairs analysts.

Panel member Professor McKee gave an overview of ‘falsified’ medicines – suggesting the solution was to strengthen national regulation through advice and support, improve intelligence and enforcement of criminal activities, especially organised crime – but he fears that money will not be found to support public health.

A decade ago, half of Nigeria’s medicines were fake or substandard. Today, it’s less than 15 percent, based on a new study I’ve published today with Paul Orhii, Head of NAFDAC (Nigeria’s health regulator), and others.