Intake of fake drugs cannot cure illnesses and at worst can take a life. Deaths are increasing, even though the World Health Organization (WHO) says drug counterfeiting impacts 1% of the total pharmaceutical industry in developed countries. The Peterson Group, a non-profit organization and a leading source of information on the proliferation of counterfeit medicines, said more than 30% of the total drug market is suspect of being counterfeit. While there are no definitive studies to confirm the estimated 700,000 deaths per year due to counterfeit medicines, there is a clear understanding that these drugs can, and often do, endanger human health and wellbeing.
