The Lancet  
May 14, 2011  Volume 377  Number 9778  Pages 1625 – 1718
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Editorial
Fighting fake drugs: the role of WHO and pharma
The Lancet

Preview
Counterfeit medicines pose a serious threat to public health. Up to 15% of all drugs sold worldwide are estimated to be fake. Last year, WHO, at the request of member states at the 2010 World Health Assembly (WHA), convened an intergovernmental working group on counterfeit medicines tasked with deciding the agency’s role in tackling this global scourge. The intergovernmental group was required to make specific recommendations to this year’s 64th WHA (May 16–24). They will, however, fail in this mission.