NAIROBI, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The proliferation of counterfeit drugs could undermine Kenya's quest to achieve universal health care amid rise in both infectious and non-communicable diseases, a lobby group warned on Wednesday.

Kenya Association of Pharmaceutical Industry (KAPI) said in a statement issued in Nairobi that regulators should intensify the war against sub-standard drugs to protect citizens from health risks.

"We are concerned about proliferation of counterfeit and unregulated pharmaceutical products in this market that threatens achievement of the Big Four Agenda on universal health coverage," Anastasia Nyalita, the Chairperson of KAPI said in a statement.

She spoke during an event to mark World Anti Counterfeiting Day attended by policymakers, healthcare providers and industry executives.

Nyalita regretted that weak policing, limited public awareness and under-investments in forensic technologies have undermined the fight against counterfeit drugs.

She noted that sub-standard medicine is a threat to growth of manufacturing sector while their negative impacts to human health are profound.

"Such products pose a grave danger to the national healthcare goals as they increase delivery costs," said Nyalita, noting that both public and private healthcare facilities have borne the brunt of counterfeit essential drugs and diagnostic equipment.

A market survey conducted last year by KAPI and researchers from the University of Nairobi found an 8 percent prevalence rate of sub-standard medicine that was smuggled into the country through porous borders.

Nyalita noted that unregulated and grey drugs that have flooded the market have undermined treatment and management of killer diseases like malaria, HIV/Aids and cancer.

"These unregulated and poor quality drugs pose grave danger to patients hence the need for the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to intensify vigilance and inspection," Nyalita remarked.

She revealed the pharmaceutical lobby has intensified public awareness to cushion patients from the risk of sub-standard medicine.

The government recently formed a multi-agency team to crackdown on counterfeit products including drugs, household commodities, electronics and construction materials.