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e-Pharmalink - June 2004e-Pharmalink is the e-mail newsletter of the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) an independent, apolitical, non-profit Christian organization. This newsletter aims to alert pharmacists and other health professionals of information sources about international trends relevant to their work and opportunities that could support them in their efforts to provide effective and efficient services, particularly in poorer countries. It summarizes information reported by a wide range of publications or organizations and includes web links to the original sources. Anyone can receive this e-mail. If you have any information to contribute or comments on the content, or if you would like to unsubscribe, subscribe or recommend someone to receive it, please contact Info@epnetwork.org.
According to WHO, up to 25% of medicines consumed in the developing world are counterfeit or substandard, but fake drugs are a lucrative market and the developed world also has problems. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a report on counterfeit medicines in the US. It calls for more secure packaging, distribution, and tracking measures, stronger legislation and penalties, and better information gathering and sharing on the issue. The practice of buying cheap drugs over the internet is increasing the problem. In India, the government will consider a new bill to combat the problem of counterfeit drugs, based on recommendations from the Mashelkar Committee. The bill recommends the death penalty for those who threaten lives or cause serious harm through the manufacture or sale of counterfeit drugs, with a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. The Committee also recommends the creation of a central drug administration to control licensing of all drugs. In China, the Shanghai Municipal Food and Drug Administration (SMFDA) has reached a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pfizer Inc, to more effectively detect and deter the presence of counterfeit drugs in Shanghai and its surrounding region. Pfizer will also help train government investigators. Access to Medicines—PEPFAR and Generics Use of Medicines—Antibiotic Resistance Essential Drugs Monitor, No. 33 The South African government has announced AIDS treatment roll-out in 27 pilot sites in four of the nine provinces (1st April 2004). The treatment programme has been promised since August 2003 and finally appears to be getting underway, despite bureaucratic objections and delays. The Indian government has also launched a free AIDS treatment programme, but initially at only seven clinics and with very limited supplies of drugs. There are concerns that some AIDS sufferers may try to migrate towards clinics that they believe have supplies of drugs if there are any delays in rolling out the programme. Uganda has begun distributing free antiretroviral drugs to HIV-positive people, after an announcement by Minister of Health Jim Muhwezi. An estimated 100,000 of the 1.2 million HIV-positive Ugandans are in need of antiretroviral treatment, but as of December 2003 only 17,000 people had access to the drugs. Government price negotiations and generic versions of antiretroviral drugs have helped reduce the treatment costs from $1,500 per person per month, to $30 per person per month. Drugs are scheduled to be delivered to hospitals in June, as well as to selected private clinics, police, army and research centres. Funding from the GFATM and PEPFAR will help pay for the free drugs, with priority distribution to low-income people. AIDS drugs are now available in Kenya for Ksh500 ($6) per month, according to the head of the National Aids Control Programme (Nascop), Dr Kennedy Chebet. http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/Regional/Regional140620043.html WHO has removed two antiretroviral products from the WHO List of prequalified products: Lamivudine 150mg blister pack of 10 tablets from Cipla Ltd, Kurkumbh, India, and Lamivudine 150mg plus Zidovudine 300mg blister pack of 10 tablets from Cipla Ltd, Vikhroli, India. The quality is not in question, but prequalification bioequivalence data originally accepted from Cipla have since been invalidated as the laboratory that carried out the testing has been assessed as not complying with Good Clinical Practices and Good Laboratory Practices. Cipla can resubmit new bioequivalence data. The international courier DHL announced on May 5th that it is to provide non-profit courier services to deliver antiretrovirals from Merck & Co in the Netherlands. Drugs will be delivered to treatment centres and distribution centres in Africa at a no-profit cost that will reflect the costs of shipping. A new consortium, CUMVIVIUM (“live together in friendship”), has been formed from representatives of the Holy See, generic pharmaceutical companies, the International Federation of Catholic Pharmacies, and academics. CUMVIVIUM's goals are to facilitate access of affordable medicine and to remove all barriers that delay or prevent consumer healthcare, leveraging the international network of 128,000 Catholic health institutions. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has stopped funding to three HIV/AIDS programmes in Ukraine. Nine months after approving grants worth $25 million over 2 years, only $740 000 has been spent and there has been no increase in the number of people receiving treatment. Funds will be diverted to another, as yet unnamed organization. Drug users in Russia are being harassed by both the police and the government, worsening the HIV/AIDS crisis. Users are denied access to HIV/AIDS medication, methadone treatment to help them get rid of their drug habit is banned, and the fear of police arrest often keeps them away from clean needle exchange programmes, increasing the likelihood of infection and transmission. MSF has called for a more rapid and broader uptake of artemisin compound–based treatments (ACT) for malaria. ACTs have been available in Asia for ten years and are relatively new to Africa, but are proving very effective, with improved recovery times. However, action must also be taken now to avoid a global shortage of products. Indian NGO Website Drug and Therapeutic Committees - Training of Trainers The course is organized by the Makerere University Faculty of Medicine, Uganda Ministry of Health, and Rational Pharmaceutical Management Plus (R P M Plus) Program of Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in collaboration with the WHO Department of Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy (WHO/EDM) and INRUD-Uganda. The course is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Managing Drug Supply for Primary Health Care - Training Course The course is organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), International Dispensary Association (IDA), Le réseau Médicament et Développement (ReMeD), and Management Sciences for Health (MSH).
Applications and fees (3,500 EUR, including accommodation and meals) are due no later than August 15, 2004. Please visit http://www.ida.nl/en-us/content.aspx?cid=155 or email Ms Line Kreft at lkreft@ida.nl. Global Fund Procurement Policy ( categories: e-Pharmalink )
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