Integration—Putting it All Together

257 The driving forces for counterfeit drugs are need and greed. For essential drugs, the needs are reflected in populations who require access to life-saving medicines at affordable prices. Australia has a health system which subsidises drug costs through public hospitals and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This may prove to be to the most significant factor in protecting our pharmaceutical supply from the threat of the counterfeit drug industry. Australian pharmacists should be informed about what is happening outside Australia. We should also be alarmed at the global consequences of counterfeiting. Much is being lost—not only lives and wellbeing, but also the opportunity to focus global resources on public health initiatives.