The World Health Organization reports that counterfeit medicines could make up more than 50 percent of drugs sold on the global market, with a large amount of fake drugs being bought and sold in developing countries. Whether due to loose regulation or lax law enforcement, counterfeiters can run wild in less developed countries. There is no shortage of demand and many people seek inexpensive treatment options. Others are simply trying to survive with limited access to care. Many die making that choice. The only people who profit from fake pharmaceuticals are the counterfeiters.

Originally released by Inside Science, 2017. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on December 08, 2017.