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(KPL) The Australian government has announced AU$ 1 million dollars to strengthen the national drug quality laboratories of the Lao PDR and Cambodia.
(KPL) The Australian government has announced AU$ 1 million dollars to strengthen the national drug quality laboratories of the Lao PDR and Cambodia.
The grant will be provided over 2 years through specialist NGO - United States Pharmacopeia.
Australia’s support will assist laboratories to improve quality management systems and increase testing and reporting of substandard and falsified (SF) medical products.
National quality control laboratories are critical to safeguard against SF medical products.
Australia is a strong supporter of WHO’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS) work to improve data on SF medical products to help protect patients and public health.
This system is helping to create a clearer picture of the type and extent of SF medical products. WHO’s 2017 GSMS report quoted studies indicating the observed failure rates of SF medical products in low and middle income countries is approximately 10%.
That means one in 10 consumers are being exposed to falsified antibiotics, antimalarials, cancer drugs and other medicines.
Australia’s Ambassador to the Lao PDR Jean-Bernard Carrasco commented “Australia is proud to be associated with a programme to help deliver safe and reliable medicine and vaccines to the people of the Lao PDR”.
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