GENEVA, Switzerland, July 24 –The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have jointly released a landmark report exposing the alarming threat of contaminated medicines.
The drugs continue to claim countless lives and compromise the health of many, particularly children.
The report, titled “Contaminated medicines and integrity of the pharmaceutical excipients supply chain,” reveals that over 1,300 deaths worldwide, many of them children, have been linked to contaminated medicines in the past 90 years.
These incidents often occur due to systemic vulnerabilities in the global supply chain of pharmaceutical excipients.
The contamination is often caused by the substitution of industrial-grade toxic chemicals, such as diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG), for pharmaceutical-grade excipients.
These substances can cause severe health issues and be fatal if ingested, even in small amounts.
The global bodies’ report indicates that criminal networks exploit market volatility and regulatory gaps to introduce toxic substitutes into the supply chain.
Falsified labels and substitution of toxic chemicals for legitimate excipient are common practices, and online platforms, including e-commerce and social media, are used to market falsified excipients.
Others are that regulatory oversight and enforcement mechanisms are often inadequate.
The report calls for urgent global action to close regulatory gaps, strengthen oversight of excipient supply chains, and protect vulnerable populations from preventable and deadly poisoning.
WHO and UNODC urge Member States, national regulatory authorities, and pharmaceutical manufacturers to take immediate and decisive action to prevent further tragedies.
The report emphasises the need for:- Improved regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms.
Enhanced compliance by manufacturers and distributors, greater transparency and traceability in the excipient supply chain, and stronger collaboration between health authorities, law enforcement, and the private sector
The report results from a collaborative effort involving national regulatory authorities and global health partners, made possible through the support of the Fleming Fund and the Gates Foundation.
