The World Health Organization has urged nations to take steps to avoid, identify, and address instances of substandard and fake medical supplies.
According to the WHO, many incidences of confirmed or suspected contamination with excessive amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in over-the-counter cough syrups for children have been reported by nations over the last four months.
The UN committee warned that the contaminants, which include dangerous compounds used as antifreeze and industrial solvents that can be fatal even in little doses, should never be present in medicines.
“The cases are from at least seven countries, associated with more than 300 fatalities in three of these countries. Most are young children under the age of five. These contaminants are toxic chemicals used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents that can be fatal even taken in small amounts, and should never be found in medicines.
“Most are young children under the age of five. These contaminants are toxic chemicals used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents that can be fatal even taken in small amounts, and should never be found in medicines,” the body said in a press statement on its website.
ValidViewNetwork has been able to gather that contaminated cough syrups have been a concern for public health officials across several countries.
The global health body issued three global medical alerts addressing these incidents.
The Medical Product Alert N°6/2022 on October 5, 2022, focused on the outbreak in the Gambia, Medical Product Alert N°7/2022 on November 6, 2022, focused on Indonesia, and Medical Product Alert No1/2023 on January 11, 2023, focused on Uzbekistan.
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The WHO advised parties involved in the medical supply chain to respond swiftly and in concert because these incidences are not singular occurrences.
The organization urged governments and authorities to “detect and remove from circulation in their respective markets any substandard medical product that has been identified in the WHO medical alerts referred to above as potential causes of deaths and disease,” it added.
