Substandard artemisinin-based antimalarial medicines in licensed retail pharmaceutical outlets in Ghana

Background & objectives: The artemisinin-based antimalarial medicines are first line medicines in the treatmentof severe and uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Numerous brands of these medicines manufactured in variouscountries are available in the Ghanaian market. The study was aimed at evaluating the authenticity and qualityof selected brands of artemisinin-based antimalarial medicines marketed in Ghana.Methods: In all, 14 artemisinin-based antimalarial medicines were purchased from pharmacies (P) and licensedchemical shops (LCSs) in the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana. Simple field tests based on colorimetry and thin layerchromatography were employed in determining the authenticity of the samples. Important quality assessmenttests, namely uniformity of mass, crushing strength, disintegration time, and the percentage content of activepharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) were determined.Results: All the brands tested contained the stipulated APIs. Artesunate tablet AT2 failed the uniformity of masstest while artesunate tablets AT3 & AT4 as well as amodiaquine tablets AM4 & AM6 failed the crushing strengthtest. All the six artemether-lumefantrine tablet brands passed the uniformity of mass, crushing strength anddisintegration tests. Only artemether-lumefantrine tablet brand AL1 contained the correct amount of the drugs.The other 13 artemisinin products contained either a lower (underdose) or higher (overdose) amount of thespecified drug. Artesunate monotherapy tablets were readily available in pharmacies and licensed chemicalshops.Interpretation & conclusion: All the artemisinin-based medicines tested (except AL1) were of substandardquality. The results demonstrate the need for continuous monitoring and evaluation of the quality of artemisininbased antimalarials in the Ghanaian market. Also, the practice of artemisinin antimalarial monotherapy is prevalentin Ghana. Determined efforts should, therefore, be made to eradicate the practice to prevent the development ofresistance to the artemisinins.