Key facts
- 80 vials of fentanyl were stolen from Rome's Jewish Hospital pharmacy.
- The stolen quantity is enough to produce approximately 20,000 doses.
- There were no signs of forced entry at the pharmacy's safe.
- Rome prosecutors have opened an investigation into theft and possession with intent to supply.
- An emergency government meeting was convened to address the incident and public health concerns.
Eighty vials of fentanyl have been stolen from the pharmacy of Rome's Jewish Hospital, raising significant public health concerns. The quantity stolen is enough to produce up to 20,000 doses of the synthetic opioid, which is up to 100 times more powerful than morphine.
The theft, reported on June 24, is particularly alarming as there were no signs of forced entry into the safe where the vials were stored, and the keys were accessible to multiple staff members. Prosecutors in Rome have initiated an investigation into theft and possession with intent to supply narcotic substances, with the Carabinieri's NAS unit leading the inquiry.
In response to the incident, an emergency meeting was held at Palazzo Chigi, chaired by undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano. The meeting emphasized the need for strict adherence to procedures for managing high-risk medicines. The Ministry of Health, under Minister Schillaci, is also launching an inspection and preparing a new circular to enhance controls on fentanyl's circulation and storage in medical facilities.
The Lazio Region has ordered an extraordinary inspection of the hospital pharmacy and is extending verification measures to all hospitals within the region to ensure proper management of narcotic drugs and maintain high safety standards. The spread of fentanyl on the illegal drug market has been a growing concern in Italy, leading to the presentation of a national prevention plan in March 2024.