German scientists have found out that the drug streptokinase used in many non-European countries are not up to the standard, as the amount of streptokinase present in the preparation is really low.
The study, which had tested 16 different forms of streptokinase medications across the European continent, has found only three formulations that match the safety and quality standards.The drug streptokinase is used for its anti-clotting effect and if administered after a cardiac arrest, it can increase the chances of survival by over 25%.
The study showed that medications could only realize the claims that had been made in their labels by as high as 90% to as low as 20% in some cases. These drugs are sold in countries like Brazil, India, Jordan, China and Pakistan. The report which comes out in the latest issue of the journal Circulation has once again raised the question of substandard drugs being marketed at countries where the healthcare industry is not so stringent on the quality of the medications marketed.
Researchers are of the opinion that the cases of counterfeit medications are high in the countries where the disease incidence is high and the public monitoring system is under pressure. However it still remains important that our country takes additional steps to monitor the problem of counterfeit drugs.
