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The World Health Organisation (WHO) and its sister agencies have raised concerns over interruptions in the supply of internationally controlled medicines due to Covid-19 pandemic.
WHO, International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has called on governments to ensure that the procurement and supply of controlled medicines in countries meet the needs of patients.
They want governments to ensure seamless delivery to both Covid-19 patients and those who require internationally controlled medicines for other medical conditions.
The three agencies noted that the Covid-19 pandemic had resulted in interruptions of supply chain of medicines for management of pain and palliative care, surgical care and anaesthesia, mental health and neurological conditions.
“There is a need to ensure access to controlled medicines such as sedatives and analgesics. It is important to remember the needs of existing patients who require controlled medicines,” said WHO.
WHO, INCB and UNDOC noted that patients had already started facing barriers to accessing controlled medicines before and the pandemic only made it worse, especially in countries with under-resourced health infrastructure.
“Governments should ensure that sufficient quantities of internationally controlled medicines, of assured quality, are available and affordable to people under medical care,” said WHO.
The agencies noted that throughout the duration of the pandemic and beyond the acute phase of burden on the healthcare infrastructure, it is critical that governments work cooperatively to ensure that no country is left behind.
Governments are reminded that in acute emergencies, it is possible under the International Drug Control Conventions, to utilise simplified control procedures to import medicines containing controlled substances.
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