---
license: cc-by-4.0
task_categories:
  - tabular-classification
language:
  - en
tags:
  - substandard-falsified-medicines
  - online-pharmacy
  - unregistered-medicines
  - e-commerce
  - synthetic
  - sub-saharan-africa
pretty_name: Online Pharmacy & Unregistered Medicines (SSA)
size_categories:
  - 10K<n<100K
configs:
  - config_name: social_media_marketplace
    data_files: data/online_social_media.csv
    default: true
  - config_name: dedicated_online_pharmacy
    data_files: data/online_dedicated.csv
  - config_name: cross_border_ecommerce
    data_files: data/online_cross_border.csv
---

# Online Pharmacy & Unregistered Medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa

## Abstract

Synthetic dataset modelling online pharmaceutical sales, unregistered medicine prevalence, and health outcomes across social media, dedicated e-pharmacies, and cross-border e-commerce in SSA. WHO estimates 50% of medicines from illegal online sites are falsified.

## Parameterization Evidence

| Parameter | Value | Source | Year |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 50% of online medicines from illegal sites falsified | Prevalence | WHO | 2018 |
| Most counterfeited: analgesics, antibiotics, ARVs, stimulants | Products | SAHPRA | 2023 |
| Growing e-pharmacy and social media sales in Africa | Trend | Literature review | 2024 |

## Validation

![Validation Report](validation_report.png)

## Usage

```python
from datasets import load_dataset
ds = load_dataset("electricsheepafrica/online-pharmacy-unregistered", "social_media_marketplace")
```

## References

1. WHO. Substandard and falsified medical products. 2018.
2. SAHPRA. Fake medicines are a dangerous threat in Africa. 2023.

## Citation

```bibtex
@dataset{electricsheepafrica_online_pharmacy_unregistered_2025,
  title={Online Pharmacy and Unregistered Medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa},
  author={Electric Sheep Africa},
  year={2025},
  publisher={HuggingFace},
  url={https://huggingface.co/datasets/electricsheepafrica/online-pharmacy-unregistered}
}
```

## License

CC-BY-4.0