Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has delivered a national apology to survivors of the thalidomide scandal and their families, more than six decades after the drug’s use led to birth defects in babies worldwide.
In a historic moment, the Australian government has officially recognized its role in the thalidomide tragedy, offering an apology to those affected.
Anthony Albanese, addressing parliament on Wednesday, described the apology as a recognition of “one of the darkest chapters in Australia’s medical history.”
Speaking directly to survivors and their families gathered in the chamber, he stated, “To the survivors – we apologize for the pain thalidomide has inflicted on each and every one of you each and every day. We are sorry. We are more sorry than we can say.”
The precise number of people affected by thalidomide in Australia remains unknown, but over 140 survivors have registered for a financial support program initiated in 2020.
A report from 2019 revealed that as much as 20% of thalidomide cases in Australia might have been preventable had leaders acted earlier.
Survivor Trish Jackson, aged 61, expressed her hope that the apology would bring “a bit of peace” to affected families. She added, “[But] it should have been done years ago when parents were still alive, when mothers were still alive. Some survivors have even passed away without having the opportunity to hear this.”
The thalidomide scandal, one of the most infamous pharmaceutical disasters in history, unfolded in the late 1950s and early 1960s when thalidomide was prescribed to pregnant women as a treatment for morning sickness. The drug’s use led to severe birth defects in thousands of children worldwide.