WHO updates drug list for nuclear emergency stockpile

On Friday, the World Health Organization updated its list of critical medicines for nuclear and radiation emergencies. It also released a policy guidance report on countries stockpiling key medicines. The picture shows WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.World Health Organization/Twitter photo

“During a radiation emergency, people can be exposed to doses ranging from negligible to life-threatening. Governments need to provide treatment to those who need it — fast,” Dr Maria Neira of WHO said in a statement. “Governments must be prepared to protect the health of their populations and respond immediately to emergencies. This includes having supplies of life-saving medicines in place to reduce risk and treat radiation injuries.”

The World Health Organization has published a Document detailing policy recommendations Used to store these medicines. It covers the requirements for developing, maintaining, and managing a national stockpile of medical supplies for radiological and nuclear emergencies.

The Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, said: “This updated list of critical medicines will be an important preparedness and readiness tool for our partners to identify, procure, stockpile, and distribute to at-risk or People exposed to these events are provided with an effective response,” Dr Mike Ryan said in a statement.

These drugs include:

• Stabilized iodine, used to prevent or reduce thyroid exposure to radioactive iodine.
• Chelated sand remover (Prussian blue, for removal of radioactive cesium and calcium from the body DTPA and zinc, for internal contamination of transuranic radionuclides).
• Cytokines to attenuate bone marrow damage in the setting of acute radiation syndrome (ARS).
• and other medicines used to treat vomiting, diarrhea, and infections.

Just before the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists put their hands on “Doomsday Clock” 90 seconds ahead of 10 seconds before midnight because of the Russian invasion Ukraine.