In this context, he called on countries to work to prevent, detect and respond to incidents of counterfeit and substandard medical products.
In the past four months, at least three countries have reported more than 300 deaths of children — most of them under the age of five — caused by the use of over-the-counter cough syrups for minors with confirmed or suspected contamination with high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG).
These are toxic chemicals used as industrial solvents and anti-icing agents that can be fatal even in small amounts and should never be found in medicines.
WHO issued three global medical alerts to address these incidents: in The Gambia and Indonesia (October and November 2022, respectively) and in Uzbekistan in January 2023.
These medical product alerts called for, among others, the detection and removal of contaminated medicines from circulation in the markets, and increased vigilance and diligence within the supply chains of potentially affected countries and regions.
They also demanded that the World Health Organization be notified immediately if such substandard products are detected in the country, and that the public be informed of the risks and toxic effects of the substandard medicines in question.
In addition, it has detailed procedures that regulators, governments, suppliers, manufacturers and distributors of medical products need to adopt.
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Andrew Motion is an award-winning English author and poet whose work has significantly influenced modern British literature. Best known for his thoughtful poetry collections and acclaimed biography of poet John Keats, Motion’s writing combines literary sophistication with emotional resonance. His contributions to literature and public engagement with poetry have earned him lasting recognition across the United Kingdom and beyond.