E-DRUG: APHA International Health Pharmaceutical Working Group
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Hello e-druggers,
The following is an article for the APHA International Health Section Newsletter. I can also forward the weblink to the WHO resolutions if you would like me to insert that, and/or forward the policy initiative on the FDA for interested members.
Cheers
Maggie
Maggie Huff-Rousselle, MA, MBA, PhD
Coordinator for APHA IH Pharmaceutical Working Group
President, Social Sectors Development Strategies, Inc.
1411 Washington Street, Suite 6
Boston, MA 02118
Tel: 617-421-9644 Fax: 617-421-9046
Email: mhuffrousselle@ssds.net
Website: www.ssds.net
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International Health Working Group on Pharmaceuticals as a Global Issue
"Ensuring Equitable Access to Appropriate and Assured Quality Pharmaceuticals"
The APHA International Health Working Group on Pharmaceuticals as a Global Issue (Rx Working Group) was formed at an impromptu meeting at the APHA 2004 Washington conference. Members at that initial meeting were primarily interested in making sure that one or more panels specifically on pharmaceuticals were held during the 2005 conference, and there were two panels on pharmaceuticals at the 2005 Philadelphia conference: "Innovative Organizational Responses to the Pharmaceutical Sector" and "Improving Use and Distribution of Pharmaceuticals."
The membership of the Rx Working Group has grown to over 75 members. For the 2006 conference, members of the Rx Working Group (or colleagues of members) submitted 18 abstracts on some aspect of the pharmaceuticals sector. Many of the abstracts came from staff working on the three USAID-funded projects - DELIVER, Supply Chain Management Systems, and Rational Drug Management - and most of those abstracts dealt with themes related to the work of those projects in the field, especially issues related to contraceptives and products for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. The group helped conference organizers to select themes for panels, will suggest moderators as requested, and will keep the Rx Working Group informed about relevant panels with those abstracts that are accepted, including abstracts that were not coordinated through the Rx Working Group.
At a different level the Rx Working Group has been collaborating with the APHA Working Group on Trade and Health. The broader theme - how the global pharmaceutical industry is [or is not] regulated and the incentives at play in industry and how they impact access to new or traditional pharmaceuticals - is a primary interest for a sub-set of the Rx Working Group in the IH Section, and we are keeping members informed about developments related to pharmaceuticals within this group by mailing out announcements and information forwarded to us by the APHA Working Group on Trade and Health, including two recent resolutions and a policy advocacy initiative on clinical trials and post-marketing surveillance.
Information - announcements, articles, papers, etc. - forwarded to the following email mhuffrousselle@ssds.net will be forwarded to members of the Rx Working Group. Email traffic is generally light, as we are not attempting to replace the good discussion groups on pharmaceuticals that already exist (e.g. E-drug).