EPN - Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network

• HIV/AIDS: EPN member launch's ARVs in India

• EPN publishes Contact magazine for the World Council of Churches

• Drug donations practices: EPN Coordinator initiates brainstorming discussions

• EPN member offers unique modular training

• EPN receives funding

• EPN members honoured at the TIME Global Health Summit

• Feedback from the People’s Health Assembly

• Publication review

• Merry Christmas and Happy 2006!

HIV/AIDS: EPN member launch’s ARVs in India
Friday 28^th October 2005 was a big day for one of EPN’s members, Inter-Church Service Association (ICSA).  On this day ICSA’s non-profit based programme the Comprehensive Medical Services India (CMSI) factory launched the antiretroviral drugs, Nevirapine and Zidovudine.  The CMSI factory was founded in 1988 in response to the spiraling drug prices and the prevalence of counterfeit drugs in the market. The factory is equipped with in-house chemical and micro-biological laboratories and manufactures about 60 essential medicines which are then supplied to charitable hospitals and projects.

The launch of these drugs means that patients will pay a quarter of the cost for the products currently on the Indian market.  CMSI will soon begin to manufacture other medicines including Efavirenz, Lamivudine and Stavudine in various strengths and combinations. This achievement will not only benefit India but is hoped to also benefit other developing countries that purchase medicines manufactured by Indian pharmaceutical firms.

Despite the heavy rains which had pounded Chennai a day before the launch resulting in power blackouts, flooded roads, submerged buildings and uprooted trees which caused massive traffic jams, EPN’s Board member, Dr. Jane Masiga and other guests cheerfully participated in the landmark launch .  Dr. Masiga was an honored guest at the function as she not only launched the Zidovudine drug but also sat next to Dr. A. K. Tharian, the Chairman of CMSI and Founder Director of Christian Fellowship Hospital.  She was also featured in the prestigious state newspaper, The Hindu Metroplus the next day and was quoted as saying, “I could have as well crossed the town by boat while fighting the swarms of mosquitoes but be there for this memorable ceremony.”  She was very grateful to her hosts at CMSI, especially the Executive Director, Dr. Moses P. Manohar and his family who made her stay in Chennai most memorable and sent her back home fully adorned in Indian attire!

EPN publishes Contact magazine for World Council of Churches

In May 2005, EPN took up the challenge to produce Contact magazine a publication of the World Council of Churches (WCC).  EPN is proud to announce that after several months of hard work, Contact magazine Issue number 181 is complete and ready for circulation.  On behalf of the Secretariat the editor would like to give special thanks to the members and friends of EPN who wrote the articles featured in this edition.  Their efforts made this achievement possible.  In future EPN hopes to publish one edition of the magazine annually on behalf of WCC.

Drug donations practices: EPN Coordinator initiates brainstorming discussions
The EPN Coordinator has initiated an e-mail based brainstorming discussion that would assist in updating the World Health Organization’s (WHO) interagency drug donations guidelines. This follows reports that most of the drug donations that were sent to areas devastated by the Tsunami late last year were past their expiration date or would expire within months rendering efforts to supply the survivors with these medicines futile.  The Coordinator’s initiative has received overwhelming support and will be made up of sixteen people with the Coordinator as the moderator.  The others are Phillipa Saunders, Jim Russo, Stevan Gressitt, Hans Peter Bollinger, Bulus T. Yayok, Atieno Ojoo, A. Hannah, Geoffrey Crumpling, Betty Amailuk, Klara Tisocki, Albert Petersen, Adenrele Koleade, Olaf Mordt, Christel Albert and Beverly Snell.

Regular updates on the progress of the discussions will be available on e-drug and on subsequent issues of Netlink.

EPN member offers unique modular training

EPN member Catholic Pharmaceutical Services (CPS) which is based in Ghana has developed a Drug and Therapeutic Committee (DTC) Training Programme to equip health workers with skills needed to ensure the rational and effective use of medicines in health institutions.  This training is unique because unlike other training programmes, the participants go through training in a specific module and then go back to their institutions to implement what they have learnt before returning 8 weeks later for further training on the second module.  This system is referred to as the “Learn and Do” (LAD) approach.  The training seeks to establish DTCs in all health institutions by teaching about the rational use of drugs.  Rational drug use means that patients receive medicines, which are appropriate for their conditions, for the adequate duration of time and that these medicines are supplied at the lowest price to both the institutions and the patients.

More than thirty doctors, pharmacists, nurses and administrators have undergone the four modules of training namely: Introduction to DTCs, Standard Treatment Guidelines, Drug Use evaluation and Management of DTCs.  They report to have found the training extremely useful.  The training was offered under the Strategies for Enhancing Access to Medicines (SEAM) project.  For further information on the modular DTC training, contact Charles Allotey at mailto:kallotey@gmail.com..

EPN receives funding

The EPN board is pleased to inform the network members that we have secured some funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and Bread for the World (BfW) for activities scheduled for the next two years as per our strategy. The activities are in the area of strengthening church related drug supply organizations, continuing HIV/AIDS treatment literacy, access to the drugs and building the network for greater impact. The board looks forward to the support of the Country Focal Points (CFPs) and members in making our plans successful for their benefit and benefit of those they serve.

EPN members honoured at the TIME Global Health Summit

EPN is extremely pleased that TIME magazine honoured two EPN members at its Global Health Summit which was held in New York in November 2005.  Peter Okaalet, a Ugandan physician and theologian working for MAP International in Nairobi, and Leon Ngoma Kintaudi, a Congolese physician working for Eglise du Christ au Congo (ECC) in Kinshasa, DR Congo, have both served as EPN’s board members and were honoured for their exceptional contribution in the health care profession.

American TIME magazine in its November 7^th edition had the title story as “How to save a life: A special report on the world’s most dangerous diseases – and the heroes fighting them.” Peter Okaalet was portrayed as a “Bridge builder.”  He attempts to bridge the gap between doctors, ministers and churches, by running capacity building workshops on HIV/AIDS and helps to establish master’s degree programmes in pastoral care and HIV/AIDS in various seminaries and Bible colleges in Eastern and Southern Africa.  “For a long time the church was very quite; we are beginning to respond, but we have to do more.” Peter said during his speech.

Leon Kintaudi was portrayed as a “Country doctor,” who after training and graduating as a medical doctor in California, U.S.A, decided to return to DR Congo in the late nineteen nineties to help revive the country’s devastated health care system. “Success doesn’t happen overnight,” Leon was quoted as saying. “We have to act now to make a difference 100 years from now.”

More information about the TIME Global Health Summit is available on http://www.time.com/.

Feedback from the People’s Health Assembly

The July 2005 Netlink edition reported that Josefa Castro-Cobian EPN’s member in Peru had earlier in the year attended the 2^nd Peoples Health Assembly (PHA) organized by the Peoples Health Movement (PHM) in Cuenca, Ecuador.  Over 1,000 representatives from 82 countries around the world attended the assembly to analyze global health problems and to develop strategies to promote Health for All.

The goal of the PHM is to re-establish health primary health and equitable development as top priorities in local, national and international policy-making.  The assembly highlighted key issues in relation to access to essential medicines, rational use of drugs, pricing and patents of medicines, all of which are of great importance to EPN. Concerns that were raised during one of the sessions on forces in the market and access to medicines included: the high prices of medicines especially for the poor.  An example is Argentina where the poorest fifth of the population spends 80% of its health budget on medicines and the richer fifth of the same population spends 4.1% of their health budget on medicines.  Other concerns were the observation that prescribing of generic medicines without addressing pricing and supply factors does not necessarily lower the cost of medicines. The lack of research by the pharmaceutical industry for medicines that affect the poor was seen to be a major issue as well. Ideas and proposals that were raised in relation to these included: creation of a world fund to assure the research and development of essential medicines, development of strategies in the pricing of medicines and strengthening of the medicine supply system.

Josefa recommended that EPN continue to form partnerships with organizations that have similar goals as EPN for the purpose of speaking as one voice to advocate and lobby for these and more issues.

PUBLICATION REVIEW

AIDS in Africa: Three scenarios to 2025

It is rare for Netlink to feature publication reviews.  However, the editor has made an exception this month to include a review of the above report which is about AIDS and Africa, and the world’s response to both.

The report presents three scenarios describing possible perspectives over the next twenty years in HIV/AIDS. It was initiated by UNAIDS, and made with contributions of a wide range of people and organizations among them Heather Budge-Reid, one of EPN’s consultants. The aim of the scenarios is to provide a tool to help in decision-making rather than develop a set of prescriptions about the future. It is intended to deepen the understanding of the possible course of the AIDS pandemic, its context and impacts, and how particular policies may shape Africa’s future.

The project uses story telling which can help one to think more imaginatively about different problems. Some of the characters in these stories though fictitious, were inspired by EPN members.  They are: “Minister Ombaka”, “Doctor Kandeke”, “Pastor John Paul” and “Nurse Masiga.” This is not necessarily a book to be read from the first to the last page.  Rather it is to be read when one is in search of ideas, thoughts and inspiration. It also offers detailed figures and interesting tables accompanied by colourful illustrations.  The publication is available in English or French at:

http://www.unaids.org/unaids_resources/images/AIDSScenarios/AIDS-scenarios-2025_report_en.pdf [.pdf 5.0Mb]

Merry Christmas and Happy 2006!

Since this is the last edition of Netlink before the Christmas break, the editor on behalf of the EPN Secretariat would like to take this opportunity to wish all the Network members, friends, partners and well-wishers Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 2006.  Thank you very much for your continued support to EPN. We look forward to more activities and a more fulfilling partnership in the coming year.

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