Cross posted from: EQUIDAD@listserv.paho.org
*The World Medicines Situation Report 2011
*World Health Organization WHO
Available online at: http://bit.ly/e28TDq
The third edition of the World Medicines Situation Report brings together new data on 24 key topics relating to pharmaceutical production and consumption, innovation, regulation and safety - in one place.
Topics include selection, procurement, supply management, rational use, financing and pricing. Cross-cutting chapters cover household medicines use, access and human rights, good governance, human resources and national medicines policies.
The chapters released in April 2011 are:
*Introduction*
Background on past and present efforts to document and improve sharing of information.
*Medicines Prices Availability and Affordability*
Features data and information from surveys using WHO standard methodology. Poor medicine availability, particularly in the public sector, is a key barrier to access to medicines.
*Rational Use of Medicines*
Describes the problem of irrational use of medicines and the harmful consequences in terms of morbidity, mortality and impact to health cost. This chapter looks at global data, and draws attention to trends in developing and transitional countries, in both public and private sectors.
Rational Use of Medicines - annexes
*Traditional Medicines: Global Situation Issues and Challenges *
Describes the use of traditional medicines, including herbal medicines, in every country around the world. The global market in traditional medicines is increasing exponentially, although regulatory status varies greatly between countries.
*Access to Controlled Medicines*
International drug treaties stress that psychotropic and narcotic substances available must be available for medical and scientific use, even if they are classified as controlled medicines.
*Good Governance*
Reviews the findings of country studies, highlighting weaknesses and strengths in pharmaceutical systems that can help policy-makers better understand problems and identify solutions.
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Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC)
mailto:ruglucia@paho.org