NEW YORK CITY, New York: A failure to regulate what goes into basic medicines is costing lives, particularly children's, across some of the world's most vulnerable regions, the World Health Organization warned this week.
In a joint report with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, WHO said more than 300 deaths have been linked since 2022 to contaminated syrups containing industrial-grade chemicals such as diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol — substances used in antifreeze and not meant for human consumption.
These toxic chemicals are often illegally substituted for safer pharmaceutical-grade ingredients like propylene glycol, glycerin, and sorbitol, which are typically used in cough syrups and painkillers like paracetamol.
The report highlights systemic weaknesses in the global pharmaceutical supply chain, pointing to insufficient quality control, poor supplier oversight, and an overreliance on supplier-issued certificates. It also raised concerns over the growing unregulated sale of these ingredients via e-commerce platforms and social media.
National regulatory agencies, especially in low—and middle-income countries, were criticized for their inability to trace ingredients effectively and for failing to issue timely public alerts.
To address the crisis, the report urges governments to strengthen oversight, improve the reporting of contaminated medicines, and invest in supply chain traceability.
