New Delhi, July 24
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday called out the need for urgent regulatory action against contamination of medicines with industrial-grade toxic chemicals, posing severe health risks, especially among children.
Calling it a “tragic and ongoing public health crisisâ€, the WHO mainly focussed on diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG).
“These substances are used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents but can cause severe health issues and be fatal if ingested, even in small amounts, especially for children. They are often illegally substituted for pharmaceutical-grade excipients such as propylene glycol, glycerin, and sorbitol -- ingredients used in the formulation of medicines, including cough and paracetamol syrups,†the WHO said.
In a report jointly released with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the global health body unveiled critical findings on the persistent and preventable threat of contaminated medicines, which claimed the lives and compromised the health of countless patients, predominantly children, through the ingestion of medicines with dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals.
“Over the past 90 years, at least 25 documented incidents of excipient contamination have resulted in more than 1,300 deaths worldwide, many of them children,†the WHO said. The more recent case was in The Gambia, in which at least 66 children lost their lives, quickly followed by similar incidents in Indonesia and Uzbekistan, with a further 268 reported deaths.
“These incidents occur often due to systemic vulnerabilities in the global supply chain of pharmaceutical excipients, and they have disproportionately affected people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where regulatory oversight and access to quality-assured medicines may be limited,†the WHO said.
The report also revealed how criminal networks exploit market volatility and regulatory gaps to introduce toxic substitutes into the supply chain. These include the use of falsified labels and substitution of toxic chemicals for legitimate excipients such as propylene glycol; the marketing of falsified excipients via online platforms, including e-commerce and social media, among others.
The WHO called for urgent global action to close regulatory gaps, strengthen oversight of excipient supply chains, and protect all populations, especially children, from preventable and deadly poisoning.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Why is this still happening in 2023? After the Gambia tragedy, I thought all countries would tighten regulations. Shameful that profit motives are endangering children's lives. Time for India to lead in global pharmaceutical safety standards 💊
While WHO's concern is valid, I wish they'd provide more practical solutions for developing countries. Just saying "strengthen regulations" isn't enough - where's the funding and technical support? Many Indian pharma companies follow strict protocols but illegal operators ruin it for everyone.
I work in healthcare and this is terrifying. Many parents in rural areas buy medicines from local shops without prescriptions. Need massive awareness campaigns in regional languages about buying only from licensed pharmacies with proper bills. #MedSafety
The online medicine market needs urgent regulation too! So many fake products on e-commerce sites with 5-star fake reviews. CDSCO should conduct surprise raids on warehouses and test random samples monthly. Jai Hind 🇮🇳
Remember the cough syrup deaths last year? Our government banned some companies but is that enough? Need life imprisonment for those mixing industrial chemicals in medicines. They're no better than murderers 😡
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