Latest news with #BureauofInvestigativeJournalism
New Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Substandard drugs: A bitter pill to swallow
Late last month, a paper in The Lancet Global by a team of researchers led by Maximilian J Wilfinger of the University of Notre Dame, US, reported that several chemotherapy drugs administered in sub-Saharan Africa had failed quality tests. About 20 percent of the drugs were either ineffective or had dangerous side effects. The products of 17 manufacturers failed tests. All but one are Indian firms. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism enlarged the story. Like earlier episodes in which paediatric syrups exported from India killed children overseas, this episode reminds us that merely having a volume lead in generics does not guarantee that India can be the 'world's pharmacy', as the government likes to advertise it. These were the big picture stories, but the incident also has a personal, human angle. Personal stories are of course anecdotal, but that does not automatically devalue them, because we are not doing statistics here. So, to get personal, a couple of years ago, someone close to me was diagnosed with an aggressive paediatric cancer. We mostly hear of research successes, and the general impression is that cancers are becoming curable, or at least manageable. Indeed, they are, but for many cancers, treatment has not improved in 30 years. For perspective, it means that the treatment of the cancer we're talking about has not changed since V P Singh was prime minister. A paediatric oncologist in Delhi told me a fundamental truth: 'Cancer doesn't affect only the patient, but the whole family.' That's especially true with difficult variants of the disease. The patient and family are suddenly cut off from normal life. It is as if an invisible wall stands between them and the majority who, thank heavens, have no experience of the disease. What divides these worlds is the idea that life is uncertain. Families with cancer know this; the rest of the world has gratefully forgotten it. Our legal wills still begin with the words, 'Since life is uncertain,' but we are fortunate. We take a course of pills to brush off diseases which were fearsome killers just two generations ago, like pleurisy and typhoid. After penicillin, we are no longer wired to think of untimely death as an everyday reality. Most of us feel it is unnatural to live with uncertainty.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
What do different cancer drugs do?
The story so far: A major new investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism published by The Hindu has revealed that cancer drugs shipped around the world to more than 100 countries have failed quality tests. But what are these drugs and how are they used? Cancer is a disease characterised by uncontrolled cell growth. It is caused by mutations in genes disrupting or inhibiting the normal ways in which cells divide or die. This causes cancerous cells to develop – and when a mass of cancerous cells grows, it can form a tumour. Chemotherapy drugs disrupt this process, and these medicines have transformed the landscape of cancer treatment, improving outcomes for millions of patients. The six types of drug in our investigation – cisplatin, oxaliplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, methotrexate and leucovorin – are all chemotherapy treatments. While there are differences in exactly how these drugs work, most share a common goal: to target and kill cancer cells while minimising harm to normal cells. What is cisplatin? Cisplatin is a platinum-based drug that emerged in the 1960s from an unexpected discovery. Researchers found that a platinum-containing compound blocked the growth of bacteria, leading to the realisation that it could potentially be used to combat cancer. Cisplatin works by binding to the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from growing and dividing. The drug is particularly effective against testicular, ovarian, bladder and certain lung cancers. Its introduction has significantly improved survival rates for many patients, whether used alone or in combination with other therapies. However, like all potent medications, cisplatin comes with side effects, including sickness, kidney damage and hearing issues. Cisplatin also suppresses the function of the bone marrow, where new blood cells are produced. The resulting reduction in white blood cells has severe effects on patients' immune systems, leaving them vulnerable to infection. What is oxaliplatin? Oxaliplatin, like cisplatin, is a platinum-based drug. It also works by binding to and damaging the DNA of cancer cells. It is used mainly to treat the more advanced stages of colorectal cancer and following surgery for the removal of colon cancer, to wipe out remaining malignant cells. Oxaliplatin comes with broadly similar side effects to cisplatin. What is cyclophosphamide? Cyclophosphamide is another key chemotherapy drug, often used to tackle disease including breast cancer, some types of leukemia (a type of blood cancer), sarcoma (cancer of the connective tissues) and advanced lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes). Cyclophosphamide disrupts the DNA of cancer cells. This limits their ability to replicate and mutate. It also causes a drop in white blood cells and can also cause pain when passing urine due to inflammation of the bladder. What is doxorubicin? Often referred to as the 'red devil' due to its striking colour and severe side effects, doxorubicin was derived from a type of soil bacteria called Streptomyces, and was initially explored as an antibiotic. Doxorubicin is effective against several types of cancer, including breast cancer, leukaemia, lymphoma and sarcoma. It works by interfering with the cancer cell's DNA and disrupting the replication process. It is a staple in chemotherapy protocols, despite potential side effects including heart damage, risk of infection, skin changes and hair loss. What is methotrexate? Methotrexate is very effective against various cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma and certain types of tumour. By inhibiting the protein responsible for creating new DNA molecules, it effectively stifles cancer cell growth. Methotrexate is often given in high doses, followed byleucovorin to help protect healthy cells from damage. What is leucovorin? Leucovorin, also known as folinic acid (not to be confused with folic acid), is a form of vitamin B9. It differs from the rest of the drugs that were tested in the Bureau's investigation in that it is not technically considered a chemotherapy drug, but a companion to chemotherapy. It was first introduced in the 1950s and was designed to manage the side effects of methotrexate, for which it is still used today. Meriem Mahdi is with The Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
Eyewitness News
26-06-2025
- Health
- Eyewitness News
SA among 100 countries that received cancer medication that failed quality tests
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa is featured among countries that have received faulty cancer medication that may have caused the death of some patients. A study by the University of Notre Dame, in collaboration with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ), has revealed that one-fifth of the cancer medication tested among four African countries failed quality standards. READ: 'It's heartbreaking': Cancer drugs shipped to more than 100 countries fail quality tests According to the report, the questionable medication has been used on cancer patients in more than 100 countries and was shipped from India. While none of the samples of doxorubicin or methotrexate that was shipped into South Africa was tested in the study, these are some of the chemotherapy drugs that were found to either have too little active pharmaceutical ingredients to work or had too much toxicity in them that may have caused death. According to the report, South Africa received 850 packages of these medicines, which made their way to pharmacies and hospitals between 2018 and 2023. The Bureau for Investigative Journalism's Andjela Milivojevic: "The drugs that researchers tested have failed quality testing, which means that their active ingredient have been measured and active ingredients was really, really low, which means they are probably not going to help a patient at all. In some of them, the active ingredient is so high that they become toxic." While researchers say South Africa is on the list of countries that received these drugs, it's unclear if any cancer patients succumbed to the disease while receiving treatment with these drugs. The health department confirmed that the drugs were being used to treat cancer in South Africa.
The Independent
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Government exploring making farms and supermarkets pay to bring foreign farm workers to the UK
British farms and supermarkets could tackle the exploitation of fruit and vegetable pickers by paying their travel and visa costs, according to a government-commissioned report. The report, undertaken for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), follows growing allegations of mistreatment of migrant workers on the seasonal worker visa, including a legal challenge brought by an Indonesian fruit picker against the UK government for human rights breaches. Tens of thousands of workers come to the UK every year on a six-month visa from as far as Chile and the Philippines, and some accrue thousands of pounds of debt before they arrive, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. The potential policy runs counter to tough new immigration rules announced by Sir Keir Starmer that make it harder for workers and students to come to Britain. But it would bring the UK closer in line with other countries, such as the United States, where employers are required to bear the costs of workers' recruitment and travel. Currently, a handful of operators are licensed by the Home Office to recruit farm labourers and can issue a certificate of sponsorship that can be used to secure a seasonal worker visa from the Home Office. But the workers are left to pay for it and for the cost of travel to the UK. Commissioned by Defra the study into the 'Employer Pays Principle', seen by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and The Independent, proposes four alternative options to government, which would see recruiters, farms, retailers and consumers bear the costs instead. In response to this story, a Defra spokesperson said the government 'has no plans to impose the Employer Pays Principle for seasonal workers', but The Independent understands the government will review the study and consider learnings alongside industry partners. In the first proposed model, recruiters would have to cover the costs upfront and would then charge farms higher fees for the service. In the second option, recruiters would still cover the costs, but they could then apply to a government or industry fund to be reimbursed. In the third, the worker would cover their costs, but then be reimbursed on arrival to the UK. In the fourth, the costs covered by the recruiters would be passed on in full down the supply chain, via farms and supermarkets, to consumers. The study, written by consultancy Alma Economics, estimates a range of £850-£1,500 that would be paid by employers for each worker on the seasonal workers' scheme. It also estimates fruit and vegetable growers will face the highest financial cost from options one and three. The first model could result in 70 out of 827 farms experiencing losses, compared to 43 in the second proposal, 57 for option three, and zero for the final scheme. Consumers would pay between one and three pence per week more for fruit and vegetables picked under the scheme, the research estimates. Making the employer pay for the recruitment would cost £43.1m in total and eliminate debt for 18,200 workers. The research cites a report which said 70 per cent of workers on the scheme had accrued debt to come to the UK. One seasonal farm worker, Elize*, has been travelling from South Africa to work on British farms for several years. She has often had to borrow nearly £2,000 from acquaintances to cover her travel and visa costs, at times being charged interest rates of around 20 per cent. She says not having to pay travel and visa costs would help her get out of a cycle of having to choose between taking on high-interest loans or barely eating throughout the year in order to save enough to afford flights to the UK. The report, which consulted supermarkets, farmers and recruiters, said that stakeholders supported making operators cover the costs and then pass them down the supply chain. While the study said farmers were reliant on the seasonal worker scheme because they believed 'UK workers often lack the skills and motivation' needed to pick fruit and vegetables, they largely opposed overseas workers having their recruitment costs covered. Many worried it would threaten 'worker commitment', since the current system provides 'strong incentives to work hard' to clear debts. However, most retailers were in favour of introducing the employer pays principle, as were some scheme operators, the report said. Meanwhile, worker representative bodies and human rights organisations welcomed the proposals but thought wider reforms were needed to ensure it improved worker welfare. Eleanor Lyons, the government's independent anti-slavery commissioner, called on the government to act and highlighted the increased vulnerability of these workers. 'This has an incredibly detrimental impact on the victims who can be forced to work excessive hours, trapped in debt bondage, and in incredibly challenging conditions,' she said. 'The government needs to act now to provide more protection for seasonal workers; the risks to them are clear and there must be more safeguards.' A National Farmers Union spokesperson said: 'The NFU is aware that Defra is conducting a study modelling the economic impacts of the Employer Pays Principle. This is part of a larger agriculture sector-wide ongoing discussion on enhancements to seasonal worker welfare in the UK. Seasonal workers are of the utmost importance to the production of UK food, fruit and vegetables in particular. 'We look forward to the publication of the review so we can assess the detail in full.'
New York Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
How China Uses Work to Reshape Uyghur Identity and Control a Strategic Region
The Uyghurs arrive in Chinese factory towns by train and plane, often in groups wearing matching caps or jackets. They are sent by the government to work where they are needed, whether it is molding rubber slippers, assembling automotive wiring or sorting chicken carcasses. A joint investigation by The New York Times, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and Der Spiegel has revealed that Uyghurs are being sent out of their homeland, Xinjiang, on government work programs, more widely than previously documented. We found that workers are now involved in making a variety of goods for many well-known brands in factories across the country, presenting a challenge to international regulators looking to identify and purge forced labor from supply chains. Uyghur workers were traced to more than 70 factories in at least five major industries. MOnGOLIA Liaoning Xinjiang Tianjin Factories Shandong CHINA Jiangsu Anhui Hubei NEPAL Chongqing Hunan Jiangxi Fujian INDIA Guangdong MYANMAR MOnGOLIA Factories Xinjiang CHINA NEPAL INDIA MOnGOLIA Liaoning Xinjiang Tianjin Factories Shandong CHINA Jiangsu Anhui Hubei NEPAL Chongqing Hunan Jiangxi Fujian INDIA Guangdong MYANMAR MOnGOLIA Liaoning Xinjiang Tianjin Factories Shandong CHINA Jiangsu Anhui Hubei NEPAL Chongqing Hunan Jiangxi Fujian INDIA Guangdong MYANMAR Source: The LandScan Program, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Satellite Imagery by Esri; OpenStreetMap (OSM); Landsat Graphic by Pablo Robles Experts estimate that tens of thousands of Uyghurs have been transferred under these programs. While the precise conditions faced by these workers remain unclear, United Nations labor experts, academics and human rights advocates assert that the programs are coercive in nature. 'For these Uyghurs being forced and dragged out of their homes to go to work, it's hell,' said Rahima Mahmut, a Uyghur activist in exile and executive director of Stop Uyghur Genocide, a British-based rights group. A poultry processing plant in Dalian, Liaoning A poultry processing plant in Suizhou, Hubei 'Warmly send off Hotan migrant workers to transfer and work in the Chinese interior' 'Warmly send off Hotan migrant workers to transfer and work in the Chinese interior' 'Warmly send off Hotan migrant workers to transfer and work in the Chinese interiord' A sendoff ceremony for a group of migrant workers from the city of Hotan in Xinjiang in 2020. Source: Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
