Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1536520
10 OPINION maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 18 JUNE 2025 THALIDOMIDE, even today, still evokes decades of human suffering and hardship. But it owes its origin to 1953, when, at the time, it was creat- ed and marketed by the Ger- man pharmaceutical company Chemie Grünenthal as a tran- quilliser and wonder drug for various symptoms, including anxiety, sleep disorders, tension, and morning sickness. The shocking fact, revealed only years later and in breach of stand- ard medical protocols, was that it started off on the wrong, nay fa- tal, footing as it had never been tested on pregnant women or an- imals. It will eventually become a nightmare for many families, including those in Malta. Mothers who took thalidomide during the early months of preg- nancy suffered severe deformities in their babies' hands and feet. Administering the drug during childbirth led to mental develop- ment defects, heart issues, organ damage and even death. For a whole decade, the use of thalidomide by pregnant women led to what is considered one of the biggest medical disasters in history. Thousands of children were born with severe deformi- ties across 46 countries, including Malta, and thousands more died as a result. In 1961, thalidomide was with- drawn from the European mar- ket. By 1964, countries such as Canada, Australia, the UK and Germany had already begun tak- ing precautions to stop the distri- bution of thalidomide. However, Malta continued to distribute the drug until 1968. Why Malta continued doing so remains a despicable episode to this day, as the thalidomide trag- edy in our country could have easily been avoided. Since 1959, the Medical Health Department in Malta had been pushing to amend the law for stricter public security controls. Weeks and months continued to go by until September 1962, when a heated debate arose in the Maltese Parliament concerning thalidomide use. It ended with the Maltese government promis- ing to continue studying the situ- ation and conducting research in Malta, instead of taking immedi- ate action. An unforgivable, degrading and inhuman act occurred in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when the British used Malta as a place to carry out research. They ob- served the effects of this medicine in Malta to compare them with what was happening in the UK. Although only 25 cases were of- ficially recognised in Malta, there were around 1,500 child deaths related to thalidomide intake documented by Maltese hospi- tals. The number of survivors is thankfully lower, but they are still seeking adequate compensation and a catharsis for their traumatic ordeal. Indeed, in May 2022, the Thalidomide Survivors Associa- tion (Malta) was registered with the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations. In 2023, the government apol- ogised for the lack of immediate action to prevent the hardship those affected by this medicine suffered. Not only that, but the apology was followed by a finan- cial compensation scheme to the survivors, with payments still be- ing paid out today. One of the positive legacies of thalidomide has been to make disability more visible. Since childhood, when their parents fought for justice, Maltese tha- lidomiders have not featured enough in the local media. Emotions run high when thalid- omiders reflect on Grünenthal, the company that produced tha- lidomide in the 1950s. In 2012, the company's chief executive unveiled a statue representing a thalidomide survivor in Stolberg, Germany, along with an apology for the first time. The apology was dismissed by the thalidomide community worldwide, primar- ily because Grünenthal has still not properly admitted liability and compensation claims are still outstanding. In contrast, in 2016, three mem- bers of the UK thalidomide com- munity secured a site for a per- manent Thalidomide Memorial in Cardiff to commemorate those who have died. It is a testament to the empathy survivors have for each other and their recognition of the value of every life affect- ed by thalidomide. It puts the cold, half-hearted apology from Grünenthal to shame. Malta should emulate such a move and secure a suitable site to put up a memorial to commemo- rate Maltese thalidomide victims. There are many legacies of thalidomide. From the early campaigning by the parents and media coverage to the contin- ued work of campaign teams, the thalidomide catastrophe has paved the way for others seeking justice, especially for medical and pharmaceutical negligence and malpractice. There is still much to learn from thalidomide, from its complex history and ongoing impact on people's lives today to under- standing its mechanisms to aid future drug safety and to help identify new drugs retaining clin- ical benefit without the risk of A catharsis for thalidomide survivors Mark said Emotions run high when thalidomiders reflect on Grünenthal, the company that produced thalidomide in the 1950s Mark Said is a veteran lawyer