International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue IX, September 2022|ISSN 2454-6186
Comprehending the Role of Physicians and Counterfeit Medicine in Bangladesh
Farzana Nazera1*, Valliappan Raju2
1PhD Aspirant, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Malaysia
2Professor, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Malaysia
*Corresponding Author
Abstract: Counterfeit medicine is a dangerous problem in Bangladesh, making the country’s healthcare system more challenging. For a developing nation like Bangladesh, finding a perfect solution to curb this problem is complex. According to the World Health Organization (2021), awareness is the key to preventing the innocent patient from taking counterfeit medicine. Due to the knowledge gap, it’s hard for patients to detect the authenticity of medicine because it requires knowledge of medicinal formulation. Physicians of Bangladesh could play a vital role in preventing this counterfeit medicine problem by establishing guidance and cooperation relationships with the patients. The study reviewed the concept of counterfeit medicine, conducted a bibliometric analysis of counterfeit medicine on the Scopus database, and provided a relationship flow diagram of prospective guidance relationship between physicians and patients. The study concluded that the physicians should offer this consultation service to the patients, and the study expected that the patient willingly accepts it for getting the safeguard against counterfeit medicine.
Keywords: Bibliometric Analysis, Physicians, Patients, Counterfeit Medicine, Bangladesh
I. INTRODUCTION AND PROBLEM BACKGROUND
The world is now undergoing the steamroller of a devastating pandemic entitled “COVID19,” which challenges every sector that is closely associated with the existence of mankind. Bangladesh is also severely affected, and its poor healthcare system worsens the situation. None can expect a better situation in a country with less than 1% G.D.P. spending on healthcare (Mohiuddin, 2020). Counterfeit medicine in Bangladesh pours oil on the flame of the poor healthcare system. As per the information provided by the drug market intelligence, an estimated Tk 600 crore of counterfeit medicines is traded in the Tk 18,000 crore medicine market in Bangladesh each year (ibid). Countless unregistered medicine shops sell those not properly monitored by the concerned authorities of Bangladesh (ibid).
Moreover, reputed medical hospitals are subject to selling counterfeited medicines in their treatment process (ibid). The same source argued that the steps taken by the concerned authorities linger for a time, subjecting to the willingness to take action against them. At this stage, awareness from the patient side is the key to preventing them from this mayhem of counterfeit medicines.