e-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
This edition includes:
NEWS:
ACCESS TO MEDICINES
WHO: Making medicines and health technologies safe and accessible
In the World Health Organization (WHO) Bulletin (Volume 83, Number 9, September 2005, pp. 647-720), Dr. Vladmir Lepakhin, the Assistant Director of the Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals cluster of departments at WHO responded to questions on the quality and safety of medicines and health technologies. According to Dr. Lepakhin, WHO’s main concerns regarding access to medicines are irrational use of medicines through self-medication which in extreme cases causes adverse side-effects and sometimes lead to death. For the full interview visit:
http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/83/9/interview0905/en/index.html
U.S.A accepts WTO agreement for importation of HIV/AIDS Generic medicines to developing countries
The USA has formally accepted an amendment to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights that allows developing countries to issue compulsory licenses to
import generic drugs for diseases such as HIV/AIDS if a country confirms
that it cannot manufacture them domestically.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=4&DR_ID=34404
HIV/AIDS
Churches: Participation of HIV positive persons
The World Council of Churches (WCC) in cooperation with the Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+), the African Network of Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by HIV/AIDS (ANERELA+) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has prepared a series of three policy documents referred to as ‘Frameworks for engagement’. The documents encourage churches to include HIV positive persons to fully participate and become members of churches and church-related organizations. The documents are available on:
Towards a Policy on HIV/AIDS in the Workplace
http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/mission/workplace-policy-e.pdf
Guidelines on Partnerships between Churches and People Living with HIV/AIDS Organisations
http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/mission/guidelines-e.pdf
Working with People Living with HIV/AIDS Organizations
http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/mission/background-e.pdf
AIDS treatment for children
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recently held a technical consultation on paediatric ARV formulations. The aim of the meeting was to review the current status and development in the use of ARVs in HIV-infected infants and young children, with the specific intention of identifying immediate steps to increase access to appropriate antiretroviral formulations. To view the presentations at the meeting please visit:
http://www.who.int/3by5/paediatric/en/index.html
DIARRHOEA
Diarrhoea vaccine tests hopeful
Clinical trials for two diarrhoea vaccines have been found to have high levels of efficacy and safety giving hope to millions of children who fall ill every year because of the diarrhoea-causing rotavirus particularly found in developing countries.
http://www.upi.com/HealthBusiness/view.php?StoryID=20060105-045215-3891r
MALARIA
Excellent results for malaria drug trials
Results of clinical studies conducted in Thailand for the drugs Artesunate and Mefloquine (AS/MQ) show that this new fixed-dose combination (FDC) is as effective as the existing separate formulation. Both the new FDC and the existing separate tablet formulation have similar safety profiles, with low and comparable rates of minor side effects. However the most common side effect, early vomiting, is lower for the FDC (3%) than for the separate tablet formulation (8.4%).
http://www.dndi.org/newsletters/12/news.htm
TB
Checklist for improving drug management to control TB
The guidelines are a checklist for the improvement of drug management in the treatment of TB:
- Advocate for policies and laws that promote availability and appropriate use of TB drugs
- Use DOTS guidelines to select the essential first-line TB drugs, and consider fixed-dose combinations of these drugs. Do not select second-line drugs unless your countries programme has qualified as a DOTS plus pilot project
- Follow effective pharmaceutical procurement practices, quantify drug needs, use appropriate procurement methods to foster combination, determine qualifications of suppliers, provide suppliers with specifications for drugs and packaging, assure drug quality and monitor suppliers’ performance
- Assure effective distribution systems to ensure that TB drugs are available at all times in the quantities needed at all service delivery points where drugs are administered to patients
- Support DOTS standard treatment guidelines and develop a system for direct observation of patients’ adherence. Monitor prescribing practices; establish relations with private providers; develop educational programmes for providers; patients and communities about appropriate use of TB drugs and develop incentives for patients and providers
- Include TB control in strategic, annual and short-term work planning. Implement plans to improve TB drug management.
- Monitor and evaluate TB drug management
http://erc.msh.org/TheManager/English/V10_N4/V10_N4_En_Issue.pdf
Global Plan to stop Tuberculosis launched
On January 27 2006, The Stop TB Partnership announced the launching of its new Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis (2006-2015) at the World Economic Forum 2006 in Davos, Switzerland and in Nairobi, Kenya. The partnership was formed in the year 2000 and comprises a network of over 400 international organizations, countries, donors from the public and private sectors, governmental and non-governmental organizations and individuals. It calls for US $56 billion (triple the current investment) to be allocated over the next 10 years for the following goals: expansion of access to quality TB diagnosis and treatment; treatment of 50 million people for TB, saving 14 million lives; introduction of a new drug to fight TB by 2010; and to produce, by 2015, a safe, affordable and effective TB vaccine.
http://www.ccih.org/bulletin/0206.htm#57
FOCUS ON RESOURCES:
REPORTS
Report on corruption in health
Transparency International has this year released its global corruption giving details of the vulnerability of the health sector to corruption. The report documents corruption in both rich and poor countries as well as its effects on public health.
http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/84/2/news10206/en/index.html
TRAINING COURSES
Rational medicine management – a focus on HIV/AIDS,TB and malaria
Dates: 28th August – 9th September 2006
Location: Ifakara Training Centre, Ifakara, Tanzania
Application deadline: 15th June 2006
For more details please visit: http://www.sti.ch or email: courses-sti@unibas.ch
BOOKS
Guidelines to ART in paediatrics
The Drug and Therapeutics Committee of Gertrude’s Garden Children’s Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya through a collaborative effort has put together reference guidelines for medical practitioners, pharmacists and other medical personnel who attend to HIV positive children. Enquiries on the book should be directed to:
The Chief Pharmacist
Gertrude’s Garden Children’s Hospital
P. O. Box 42325 – 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
email: pharmacy@gerties.org
CONFERENCES
Ecumenical Christian Pre-Conference - Faith in Action: Keeping the Promise
Dates: August 10th – 11th 2006
Venue: Toronto, Canada
This conference will offer information sharing and networking for Christians involved in HIV/AIDS issues, and will prepare participants for the subsequent International AIDS Conference through plenary sessions, skills building workshops and daily worship. For more information please visit:
http://www.ccih.org/bulletin/0206.htm#30
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