When large quantities of contaminated, subpotent, or superpotent drugs are introduced into the medical supply pipeline, injury or death of hundreds or thousands of patients can occur. Tracing the origin of substandard and dangerous products and tracking across regions and countries where shipped is quite costly in both money and time. From patients' perspective, timely access to quality product is paramount. Receiving deficient product threatens their survival and creates huge sums of financial cost to both them and the medical system. With the passage of HR 3204 the FDA must now find a way to be proactive in policing the global medical product supply line without restricting market availability. Without a comprehensive, world-focused implementation plan these new regulations will fail to protect the public.
Keywords: counterfeit; global; legislation; outcomes; pharmacovigilance; substandard.
© 2014 Diabetes Technology Society.