By Gina Shaw
Fosun Pharma USA will donate surplus inventory of ketorolac tromethamine injection, USP, a widely used nonopioid pain reliever, to underserved communities around the world in a new collaboration with the global health organization MAP International, the two organizations announced. The drug will be distributed through MAP’s global network serving 300 on-the-ground partners and volunteer medical mission groups.

Ketorolac tromethamine is commonly used for moderate to severe pain and administered in surgical, postoperative, and trauma care settings. Its injectable formulation makes it especially valuable in rural clinics, mobile units, and emergency response situations, said Jeremy Tatum, the president of U.S. Established Medicines at Fosun Pharma USA. “Health equity is a human right and when achieved it helps build resilient communities across the globe,” Mr. Tatum said.

“MAP International’s mission to bring medicine to all people aligns closely with our belief that high-quality healthcare should be accessible to patients and families, no matter where they live.”

In 2024 alone, MAP delivered more than 47 million treatments to 92 countries, providing support for emergency responses, surgical access, and essential care for children, families, and communities. “Access to pain relief is more than a medical issue. It’s a matter of dignity, healing and humanity,” said Chris Palombo, the president and CEO of MAP International. “Fosun Pharma USA’s donation will allow MAP International to serve patients recovering from surgeries, giving birth or surviving disaster—all moments when pain relief is the moral imperative and medical standard. We are grateful to Fosun Pharma USA and all of our generous community of corporate donors for their trust in us and kindness toward others.”

Jessica Geiger, PharmD, a pain management, opioid safety, and prescription drug monitoring program facility coordinator at the VA Illiana Healthcare System, in Danville, Illinois, recently returned from teaching palliative care in Ethiopia in partnership with the American Society of Clinical Oncology. “I saw firsthand how access to good pain care is a significant problem, particularly access to appropriate medication,” Dr. Geiger said. “So, I was excited to learn about this new collaboration, and hopeful that it will improve access to needed pain management in under-resourced areas. Not only will it improve acute pain care in trauma and surgical settings, it also has the potential to be helpful in preventing chronic pain. We know that when people are in acute pain long enough, it can turn into chronic pain.”

Dr. Geiger added that “there is a lot of literature demonstrating that stronger nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories are effective in these situations, and [ketorolac tromethamine injection] is a particularly good choice, especially for patients who cannot take anything orally.”

Moreover, because the medication is not a controlled substance, “it’s particularly good for use in a partnership like this,” she  said. “There is always risk associated with controlled substances, because there is a secondary market. Donation of a non-controlled pain relief medication … helps to ensure that it will get into the hands of the people who need it.”

The sources reported no relevant financial disclosures. The opinion expressed by Dr. Geiger is hers alone and does not reflect the opinion of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the federal government.