Fake medicines and online drug sales pose major risks, warns new WHO report

The World Health Organization has warned that substandard and falsified medicines are becoming a major global health threat, driven by weak regulation, medicine shortages and the rapid growth of online sales. Its new toolkit stresses that alongside stronger regulation, clear communication, public trust and community engagement are essential to protecting people from dangerous medicines and misinformation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over the rapid spread of substandard and falsified medicines, warning that unsafe drugs are becoming a major global public health threat. In a newly released toolkit developed with support from organizations including UNICEF, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the WHO Academy and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), health experts say fake and contaminated medicines are increasingly reaching patients through both informal markets and online platforms.

According to WHO estimates, up to one in ten medicines sold in low- and middle-income countries may be substandard or falsified. These products include counterfeit antibiotics, fake cancer treatments, contaminated cough syrups and medicines with incorrect or dangerous ingredients. In recent years, contaminated paediatric syrups linked to toxic chemicals were associated with the deaths of hundreds of children across Africa and Asia, highlighting serious weaknesses in medicine regulation and supply chains.

Why Fake Medicines Are Spreading

The report says several factors are driving the rise of unsafe medicines worldwide. Medicine shortages, high treatment costs, weak regulatory systems and growing online sales have created opportunities for criminal networks to enter the pharmaceutical market. During emergencies, conflicts and disease outbreaks, the problem often becomes worse as desperate patients search for affordable or easily available treatments.

WHO also points to the growing role of the internet. Unregulated websites and social media platforms are increasingly being used to sell medicines directly to consumers. Many people unknowingly purchase dangerous products because the packaging looks genuine or because the products are advertised as "natural" or "safe." Lifestyle medicines, weight-loss drugs and cosmetic treatments are especially common targets for counterfeiters.

Health experts warn that unsafe medicines not only fail to treat diseases but can also worsen illnesses, increase antimicrobial resistance and damage trust in healthcare systems.

Trust and Communication Matter

A key message throughout the WHO toolkit is that fighting fake medicines is not only about stronger laws and inspections. It is also about public trust and communication. WHO argues that poor communication during health emergencies can create panic, spread misinformation and weaken confidence in health authorities.

The toolkit places strong emphasis on "risk communication and community engagement," meaning governments and health agencies must work closely with communities instead of simply issuing warnings. People need clear, honest and timely information about the risks they face, how to identify unsafe medicines and where to seek help.

WHO says communities should be treated as active partners in emergency response. Patients, pharmacists, community leaders and health workers all play an important role in identifying suspicious products and stopping misinformation from spreading.

Understanding Why People Take Risks

The report highlights that many people buy medicines from unsafe sources because they feel they have no better option. Poverty, limited healthcare access, medicine shortages and distrust in health systems often push consumers toward informal sellers or online pharmacies.

To address this, the WHO encourages governments to study public behaviour and understand why people make risky choices. The toolkit recommends using behavioural science to design health campaigns that are practical, culturally sensitive and easy to understand.

Instead of using fear alone, the WHO advises authorities to provide simple guidance that helps people feel confident about protecting themselves. This includes encouraging consumers to buy medicines only from licensed pharmacies, check packaging carefully and seek medical advice before using unfamiliar products.

A Global Fight to Protect Public Health

WHO says the fight against substandard and falsified medicines requires cooperation between governments, regulators, healthcare workers, law enforcement agencies, pharmaceutical companies and local communities. The organization also stresses the importance of monitoring rumours and misinformation online, especially during health emergencies when fear spreads quickly.

The report concludes that protecting people from dangerous medicines depends not only on stronger regulation but also on transparency, trust and public awareness. In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, WHO warns that fake medicines will remain a growing challenge unless countries invest in both healthcare systems and community engagement.

The toolkit ultimately sends a clear message: safe medicines save lives, but public trust and accurate information are equally essential in protecting global health.