E-drug: ARV parallel export from Africa to Europe (cont)
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I'd like to add two short comments about this issue:
1. The strategy of different packaging and labelling has been already used
in some industrialised countries (e.g., in France for one year, and for
grounds of different prices existing between the hospital sector and private
community pharmacies, the interferon alpha was packaged and labelled
differently), and as well in developing countries (e.g., the antimalarial
combination artemether-lumefantrine is sold in wealthy countries under the
name "Riamet" TM, and "Coartem" TM in endemic countries).
This is apparently a good way of avoiding undesirable influx.
2. The Dutch example of re-export from Africa to Europe is indeed extremely
regrettable but so far "a priori" an isolated case, and in addition
identified.
The conclusion to be drawn is a need of strengthening the developing
countries drug supply system, and also the authority and means of the
national drug regulatory authorities. But some might draw a different
conclusion, say, slowing down the current trend of differential pricing or
putting some countries on a blacklist. Attending a meeting this week-end in
Philadelphia, PA on differential pricing issue, these are comments I heard.
Patrice Trouiller, PharmD, MB
University Hospital of Grenoble, France
Tel : +334 76 76 54 97
Fax : +334 76 76 51 09
Email: PTrouiller@chu-grenoble.fr
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