Worldwide need for a comprehensive database of stability data for pharmaceuticals stored in uncontrolled environments

Developing a database to compile all known, relevant information on the stability of pharmaceuticals in tropical environments would vastly increase access to this information, improving safety and reducing cost. Many studies have examined the stability of pharmaceuticals stored under conditions that exceed manufacturer specifications, but this information is published across so many journals and Websites that it can be virtually inaccessible to clinics or suppliers needing to make pharmaceutical inventory management decisions. We have made progress toward the completion of a database of this nature, but resources and abilities of international public health organizations will be needed to bring the database fully to fruition.