E-DRUG: WHO Press Release on Drug Donations to Albania
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Press release EURO/15/99
Pristina and Copenhagen, 30 June 1999
WHO drug donation audit in Albania reveals many expired and unusable
"gifts"
A WHO audit of humanitarian drug donations received in Albania during
May 1999 reveals serious quality problems. The assessment of all
donations received by the drug distribution authority owned by the
Albanian state during May revealed that 400 000 tablets and 1200 large
volume intravenous fluids were already expired upon receipt and that 2
000 000 tablets, 85 000 vials for injection and 16 000 tubes of cream
for external use will expire before the end of 1999. Only 28% of drug
donations were packed in the large-quantity units recommended by
international guidelines, and 36% of donations were in small sample
packets.
"None of these short�shelf life donations were requested ," stated Indro
Mattei, a member of the Swiss Disaster Relief Unit seconded to the WHO
Humanitarian Assistance Project Office in Tirana and one of the two
pharmacists conducting the audit. "There is no way they can be
distributed and used before the end of the year. We estimate that 50% of
the drugs coming into Albania donated by non-medical organizations are
inappropriate or useless and will have to be destroyed. We are very
concerned that some pharmaceutical companies are using this humanitarian
crisis to get rid of unwanted stockpiles."
An analysis of import permit documents submitted to the Ministry of
Health by humanitarian agencies during May 1999 showed that 65% of drugs
presented an inadequate expiry date (either missing or expiring less
than 1 year from the date of donation): 32% were declared with brand
names only that are unfamiliar to Albanian health professionals and
almost 10% of donations were not accompanied by any detailed packing
list at all. The situation in June has not improved.
In April 1999, the Albanian health authorities relaxed import controls
to speed up the
entry of urgently needed drugs and medical supplies to meet the needs of
the 460 000 Kosovar refugees and the continuing needs of the rest of the
Albanian population. Even before the refugee crisis, the Albanian health
care system depended heavily on drug donations, being able to cover only
20% of the drug and medical supply needs of its hospitals. Efficient
administrative procedures aimed at controlling the quality of incoming
drug donations were in place. The WHO audit was conducted in
collaboration with Pharmaciens sans Fronti�res (PSF) to assess the
effect of the relaxed import controls on the quality of drugs and
supplies received and the compliance of donors with international and
national drug donation guidelines.
As the preferred destination for drug donations now shifts to Kosovo,
good coordination of drug donations from the very beginning will be
crucial to avoid duplication, waste and the arrival of unneeded and
inappropriate drugs.
Strict adherence to international guidelines for drug donations prepared
by WHO in collaboration with major humanitarian agencies, including the
United Nations Children�s Fund (UNICEF), International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC), M�decins sans Fronti�res (MSF) and Pharmaciens sans
Fronti�res (PSF), is essential. The guidelines for drug donations and
the WHO Model List of Essential Drugs are available from the WHO Web
site (http://www.who.dk/cpa/Kosovo/drugs.htm) or from WHO field offices
in Pristina, Tirana, Skopje and Sarajevo.
"The audit identifies several ways to improve the situation," notes
Regine Seer, Pharmacist, Keele University (United Kingdom), the second
member of the WHO audit team. "Don�t send drugs that have not been
requested. Don�t send returned-to-pharmacy drugs or free samples issued
to health professionals because their quality cannot be assured and such
use is forbidden in many European countries. Send drugs only according
to assessed needs, and all donated drugs should expire more than 1 year
from the date of donation."
For more information, contact:
Mr Indro Mattei, Pharmacist
Swiss Disaster Relief Unit
or
Ms Regine Seer, Pharmacist
Keele University
c/o WHO Humanitarian Assistance Project Office
Tirana, Albania
+355 42 71 831 or +355 42 72 522
Franklin Apfel or Annette Andkjaer
Communication and Public Affairs
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Scherfigsvej 8, DK-2100 Copenhagen �,
Denmark
Tel.: +45 39 17 13 36 or +45 39 17 13 44
Fax: +45 39 17 18 80
Press releases on World Wide Web site:
http://www.who.dk/cpa/cpa.htm
� WHO Regional Office for Europe
URL: http://www.who.dk/
Updated 30 June 1999 - webmaster@who.dk
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