Africa’s epidemic of low-quality medicines | Science
Between July and October 2023, about 70 Gambian children under the age of 5 died after drinking cough syrup containing high levels of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, both of which are toxic to humans (1). These tragic deaths exemplify the dangers of medicines that fail to meet quality specifi cations and standards, as well as those that deliberately misrepresent their identity, composition, or source (2). To prevent the distribution of substandard and falsifi ed (SF) medicines, the quality of all medicines should be regulated, which will require coordinated leadership and extensive data collection.
Between July and October 2023, about 70 Gambian children under the age of 5 died after drinking cough syrup containing high levels of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, both of which are toxic to humans (1). These tragic deaths exemplify the dangers of medicines that fail to meet quality specifi cations and standards, as well as those that deliberately misrepresent their identity, composition, or source (2). To prevent the distribution of substandard and falsifi ed (SF) medicines, the quality of all medicines should be regulated, which will require coordinated leadership and extensive data collection.
