Key points
- Substandard drugs risk cancer patients’ lives in 100 countries
- Research found major ingredient inconsistencies in vital medicines
- Low-income nations rely heavily on unsafe generic cancer drugs
ISLAMABAD: Vital chemotherapy drugs used worldwide have failed quality tests, putting cancer patients in over 100 countries at risk of receiving ineffective or dangerously toxic treatments.
Many of the substandard drugs originate from India, a major global supplier of generic medicines. These drugs are essential for treating common cancers such as breast, ovarian, and leukaemia, according to The Hindu.
Research led by the University of Notre Dame found that around 20 per cent of 189 tested drug samples across Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Malawi failed quality standards.
The drugs analysed included cisplatin, doxorubicin, and methotrexate – all listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as essential medicines. Worryingly, several batches contained either too little or too much of the active ingredient. In some blister packs, tablets varied in strength despite being from the same strip.
Generic drugs
Generic drugs, which are far cheaper than branded ones, dominate cancer treatment globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. India is one of the largest producers of generics, exporting to more than 200 countries. While some manufacturers meet international standards, others cut corners.
Of the 17 manufacturers whose drugs failed the tests, a significant number were based in India.
The consequences of these failures are devastating. Some patients became unresponsive to treatment, while others experienced toxic side effects due to overdoses. “It’s heartbreaking,” said a UK oncology pharmacist. “To have someone accept their cancer diagnosis, start treatment, and then be given a drug that doesn’t work – it’s cruel.”
Low-cost generics
The WHO sets guidelines and pre-approves certain drugs and manufacturers to ensure safety, but enforcement is patchy. Many countries rely on these low-cost generics without strong local oversight, leaving patients vulnerable.
In poorer nations, patients often pay out of pocket for cancer drugs. In sub-Saharan Africa, up to 58 per cent of essential cancer medicine costs fall directly on patients.
In contrast, this figure is only 1.8 per cent in wealthier countries. In Ethiopia, one pharmacist noted that it could take a patient over a year to save enough for chemotherapy – only to potentially receive a faulty drug.
The findings have prompted urgent calls for stricter global regulation and better accountability for manufacturers, especially those supplying essential cancer drugs at scale, including many based in India.
