Climate Change's Hidden Impact on Meds: What We Need to Know

If your favorite medicine suddenly became hard to find or didn't work as well. Sounds far-fetched, right? But climate change could make this a reality. We often overlook how our changing climate affects the medicines we rely on. From how they're made and distributed to how they're used, climate change has the potential to shake up the whole system. Think about it: extreme weather can mess with supply chains, making it tougher to get meds to the people who need them. And heat and humidity? They can degrade medicines, making them less effective or even dangerous. This isn't just about human medicine either. Animal and livestock meds are also at risk.We're starting to see the effects of climate change on infectious diseases. But we need a better grasp on how it affects our medicine supply and quality. Especially when it comes to antibiotics and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. What can we do? Research into heat-stable medicines and ways to make the pharmaceutical system more resilient is a start. The "One Health" approach could also help by linking human, animal, and environmental health. So, let's not forget about the hidden impacts of climate change. Our health, and the health of our furry and feathered friends, depends on it.