Doctors Without Borders: Destruction of contraceptives “senseless waste”

The non-governmental organization Doctors Without Borders strongly criticizes the US government's plan. According to media reports, the government intends to use stored supplies of The NGO said in a press release that it would destroy contraceptives worth $9.7 million (approximately €8.3 million) in Belgium by the end of July, even though they were in good condition and expected to last for several years. The earliest expiration date for some stockpiles was 2027, while for many, it would not expire until 2031. The stockpiles were intended for people in crisis and conflict areas.

The contraceptives, including oral contraceptives and IUDs, were purchased with US taxpayer money for USAID family planning and reproductive health programs. The programs were discontinued by the US government at the beginning of this year.

The NGO condemns the decision to destroy these important medical supplies and warns of the devastating consequences. "By burning contraceptives, the US government is putting people's health and lives at risk to push a political agenda," criticizes Avril Benoît, executive director of Doctors Without Borders in the US.

Doctors Without Borders teams are now concerned about potential supply shortages of these products. In the regions where the organization works, access to contraceptives is already limited, as these are often conflict and crisis areas.

»We know how important it is that "Women and girls have the freedom to make decisions about their health—and the dangerous consequences when they can't. The US government's decision to burn millions of dollars worth of contraceptives is a reckless and harmful act against women and girls worldwide," says Benoît.

The planned destruction of critical medical supplies further limits the ability of local authorities and other actors like Doctors Without Borders to meet the increased demand. "No single organization can close these gaps overnight. Furthermore, such actions undermine the recent positive developments regarding the health of women and girls," the organization's press release states.