Counterfeit drugs seized by the U.S. Customs & BorderProtection (CBP) are seen on display at the agency's offices at John F. Kennedy
Airport in New York August 15, 2012.
I suppose we should not be surprised that the Institute of
Medicine has documented serious problems in our drug supply, with “counterfeit,
contaminated and adulterated drugs” in every part of the globe. Ever since the Chinese dog food scared of
2007, I expected it was only a matter of time before the same lack of standards
and regulations affected the human food supply, or worse. Thankfully the FDA is at least asking the
questions, which led to the extensive report released in February.
The report is quite startling, with ramifications that reach
every corner of the globe. Numerous people
have died from contaminated medicine in several countries, including the United
States. But possibly even more tragic is
the increase in disease fatality due to individuals who believe they are being
treated, as well as bacterial adaptations to become drug resistant. Diseases like tuberculosis are on the rise
again, after decades of progress in reducing its spread. In the 1900s, tuberculosis was responsible
for more deaths in the US than cancer.
The potential illness and suffering from bacteria developing resistance
has already been documented with MRSA and similar superbugs.
In addition, the majority of the ingredients in our drugs,
called APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients), are imported from countries
with even less control, an astounding 40% from China. “The FDA has reported at
least 62 deaths in 2007 and 2008 after being given contaminated, a blood
thinner, made in China.”The report calls for major investment by the FDA to put
in place a track and trace system and increase regulation of pharmacies. Falsified and substandard drugs have been
sold in at least 124 countries and the Institute of Medicine believes the only
way to contain the expansion of fake drugs is with a system that monitors each
product, “from manufacturer to patient”.
By group #11: Jacklyn, Jakki, Jody, Huy, Thien, Kashif,
Roba, and Sergio
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