It's hard to track drugs in the supply chain

It isn’t possible to trace back 16% of drugs to their original manufacturers, according to a new government report. That’s a stunning figure, considering that Americans are considering importing drugs from Canada to help allay rising costs. But the pharmaceutical supply chain looks to be full of holes — particularly when it comes to certain diabetes and HIV drugs. Issues of theft, diversion, and counterfeiting are rampant.

“Pharmaceuticals rest on three legs — safety, efficacy, and quality, and if we don’t have proper data to ensure quality, it points to need for improvement,” one former FDA wonk told STAT’s Ed Silverman. “This shines a bright light on ways for criminals to introduce substandard products into American medicine chests.”