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Role of Public in Counteract Substandard Drugs and Poor Medicine��?s Handling in Low and Middle Income Countries: Cross Sectional Study from Malaysia and Sudan

Abubaker Abdellah, Noordin MI, Zaki R, Ahmad S Sulaiman and Ali Abedallah

Background: Two of the main problems concerning accessibility of quality medicines in low and middle income countries are availability of substandard drugs and poor medicine’s handling. Objectives: This study is aimed at measuring the level of awareness of the Malaysian and Sudanese public towards medicines handling, their proposed role against substandard medicines and their possible contribution in pharmaceutical regulatory system. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three major cities in Malaysia and other five big cities in Sudan. A total of 844 respondents from Malaysia and Sudan included in this study. Results: 25% in Malaysia and 12% in Sudan did not understand the information on the medicine package, and 29% in Malaysia and 6.3% in Sudan did not read the recommended storage conditions. Most of the respondents in Malaysia (94%) and Sudan (88.6%) kept medicines at home, and 23% in Malaysia and 10.7% in Sudan kept it for more than six months. Majority of respondents (66.9%) in Malaysia and 16.7% of participants in Sudan ignored problems related to the use of medicines. Conclusion: This study found that there was lack of awareness in information about medicine handling. Policy makers should be concerned about enhancing public role in counteracting substandard medicines and promoting appropriate medicine handling.