Burning issues: Unraveling the nexus between dysfunctional institutions and counterfeiting in developing countries

Counterfeit and substandard products continue to bedevil public health in developing countries across the global South. Despite the growing recognition of the importance of this issue, there remains a critical gap in the scholarly discourse on how dysfunctional institutions in developing countries can create conditions that lead to the detrimental public health effects of counterfeiting. Drawing on insights from key stakeholders in Ghana, this research illuminates the mechanisms through which institutional deficiencies shape the detrimental effects of counterfeiting. The study led to the identification of three sequential and interconnected unfolding effects of counterfeiting, encompassing: tracing the growth and spread of deceptive counterfeiting to factors such as inadequate inspection and authentication of products, as well as the phenomenon of mixing counterfeit and second-hand products (Phase 1); highlighting the potential health and fire hazards stemming from policy and regulatory gaps (Phase 2); and then illuminating stakeholder mobilization and interventions (Phase 3). By exploring the linkages between these three phases, the study advances a more holistic view of the proliferation of counterfeit products, encapsulating the interconnected nature of its origins linked to the evolution of other phenomena, such as the growth of second-hand products in developing countries, and its impacts on society and public health.