A summary of the findings from the studies on the PQM Program*
| Study | Country | Date of implementation | Key findings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krech et al41 | Cambodia | PQM was implemented in 2009 | Comparing the period from 2005–2008 with the period from 2009 onwards, there has been a statistically significant reduction in the failure rate from 3.8% (33 of 877, 95% CI 2.7 to 5.2) to 2.1% (73 of 3484, 95% CI 1.7 to 2.6) (p=0.0065). Twenty-eight counterfeit medicines were found from 2005–2009 and none were found from 2010–2012. By the end of 2011, Cambodia had reportedly closed over 99% of illegal pharmacy outlets through the Inter-Ministerial Committee to Fight against Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines. |
| MOH FDD43 | (Lao PDR) | PQM was implemented in 2005 and expanded from 2005–2009 | The failure rates decreased from 3.2% in 2005 to 0.6% in 2009. During that same period, the number of samples tested increased from 158 in 2005 to 346 in 2009. The percentage of counterfeit drugs fluctuated on a year by year basis, with an initial rate of 2.5% (4 of 158) in 2005 and an average of 0.4% (6 of 1409) from 2006–2009. Numerous confiscations, fines and arrests were also reported. |
| PQM40† | Southeast Asia | PQM was implemented in 2003 and expanded in 2006–2007 | Thailand: The failure rate decreased from an initial 2.4% in 2005 to 1% in 2009. Vietnam: While the initial failure was zero in 2005, the failure rate decreased from 2.3% in 2006 to 0.3% in 2009. The Philippines: Statistical data were not available for the Philippines, but the authors reported that since the establishment of the PQM's MQM Program for tuberculosis medicine in 2009, “none of the anti-tuberculosis medicines tested within six months have been found to be substandard”. |
| Pribluda et al42 | Amazon Basin countries | PQM was implemented in 2005 | With the exception of two countries, the results for over 100 samples per country were submitted, and since 2008 “most indicated a significant decrease in the percentages that did not pass quality control testing (failures)”. For instance, in Brazil, 18.7% (29 of 155) of samples tested in 2008 failed while none of the 60 samples tested in 2010 failed. In Ecuador, 25% (18 of 72) of samples tested in 2008 failed in contrast to 0.81% (1 of 122) in 2010. |
*For some of the above countries, more than one report was available for the PQM Program. We contacted the respective authors who advised us on the datasets to use to avoid overlaps and duplications.
†The results for Cambodia and Lao PDR were not included because they were captured in the studies by Krech et al41 and Ministry of Health's, Food and Drug Department,43 respectively.
MOH FDD, Ministry of Health's, Food and Drug Department; Lao PDR; Lao People's Democratic Republic; PQM, promoting quality of medicine.