The Coalition for Patient Safety and Medicine Integrity wants stricter penalties for individuals who steal medication and medical products, according to a report by The Hill.
The coalition, consisting of Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson and Novo Nordisk, is responding to an FDA letter addressed to drug warehouses in April 2010. The letter highlighted the FDA's concern about the increased theft of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vaccines, medical devices and infant formulas.
Although the stolen goods may be sold overseas, they sometimes reappear on the U.S. market, posing patient safety risks due to product mishandling. "There have been several cases where patients experienced adverse reactions from stolen drugs, reactions that were most likely due to improper storage and handling," the letter stated.
Read the news report about the Coalition for Patient Safety and Medicine Integrity.
Read other coverage about pharmaceuticals:
- Shortage of 150 Drugs Forces Healthcare Facilities to Consider Older Alternatives
- Cumberland Pharmaceuticals to Recall Six Lots of Acetadote
- Actavis to Pay $170M for Reporting False Prices to Medicaid
The coalition, consisting of Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson and Novo Nordisk, is responding to an FDA letter addressed to drug warehouses in April 2010. The letter highlighted the FDA's concern about the increased theft of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vaccines, medical devices and infant formulas.
Although the stolen goods may be sold overseas, they sometimes reappear on the U.S. market, posing patient safety risks due to product mishandling. "There have been several cases where patients experienced adverse reactions from stolen drugs, reactions that were most likely due to improper storage and handling," the letter stated.
Read the news report about the Coalition for Patient Safety and Medicine Integrity.
Read other coverage about pharmaceuticals:
- Shortage of 150 Drugs Forces Healthcare Facilities to Consider Older Alternatives
- Cumberland Pharmaceuticals to Recall Six Lots of Acetadote
- Actavis to Pay $170M for Reporting False Prices to Medicaid