World Health Organization Recommends Stockpiling Meds for Radiological Catastrophe
The World Health Organization’s updated list of critical medicines puts a focus on radiological and nuclear emergencies.
The WHO says governments need to have treatments available for citizens exposed to radiation.
New formulas developed in the last decade have, in part, prompted the updated guidelines from WHO.
A new World Health Organization (WHO) report calling for an increased global preparedness for radiological and nuclear emergencies doesn’t spell out any particular current conflict, but it doesn’t need to. The world has become fully aware of the increased dangers of radiological and nuclear threats.
In the just-issued report, the WHO updated its list of medicines that governments should stockpile for these types of emergencies, including medicines that “either prevent or reduce exposure to radiation or treat injuries once exposure has occurred.”
“In radiation emergencies, people may be exposed to radiation at doses ranging from negligible to life-threatening,” Maria Neira, WHO acting assistant director-general of the Healthier Populations Divisions, says in a news release. She continues:
“Governments need to make treatments available for those in need—fast. It is essential that governments are prepared to protect the health of populations and respond immediately to emergencies. This includes having ready supplies of lifesaving medicines that will reduce risks and treat injuries from radiation.”
While a national stockpile will typically include generic supplies meant to support a range of emergencies, this publication includes only specific drugs known and licensed to prevent or treat human over-exposure to radiation.
WHO says a radiation emergency stockpile needs stable iodine, chelating sand decorporating agents, cytokines, and medicines to treat vomiting, diarrhea, and infections.
The publication supersedes a 2007 WHO report on the same topic with updated information on the stockpile formulary based on medicine updates over the past decade and includes potential repurposing of products previously approved for other indications.
“This updated critical medicines list will be a vital preparedness and readiness tool for our partners to identify, procure, stockpile, and deliver effective countermeasures in a timely fashion to those at risk or exposed in these events,” Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, says in the news release.
According to the WHO, potential scenarios include emergencies at nuclear power plants, medical or research facilities, accidents during transport, or intentional use of radioactive materials with malicious intent.
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