Inappropriate Drug-Donation Practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1992 to 1996

Humanitarian assistance to people suffering as a result of catastrophes generally includes large charitable donations of drugs from sources such as private individuals or companies, nongovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies, and foreign governments. Unfortunately, evaluations have repeatedly shown that many of the medical supplies sent are not the appropriate ones.1,2 During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, many areas became totally dependent on foreign help for medicines and medical supplies. Information circulated about massive quantities of irrelevant drugs that arrived in Mostar, Tuzla, Gorazde, Sarajevo, and Bihac, cities that were key targets for humanitarian assistance. These rumors prompted us . . .