Infiltration of falsified and substandard products

Falsified and substandard products are hard to differentiate from real products as they are made to look identical to a legitimate product. They often will be ineffective as they may contain the wrong active ingredient or the incorrect amount of the correct active ingredient. This could potentially lead to serious public health threats such as anti-microbial resistance. In some case they may even cause deadly reactions in patients, due to fatal levels of the wrong active ingredient or the inclusion of toxic chemicals.

Similar to the theft and diversion of medicines and medical devices, the infiltration of falsified and substandard products can involve a wide range of individuals and groups in the health system. For example, customs agents at ports may receive bribes to turn a blind eye to their import or export.