E-DRUG: Donations group formed
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Dear colleagues,
Thanks for encouraging reaction: we now have a team of about 15 people to explore more the donations issue. We close the group now. But comments are welcome, just send to me and the group will include in its discussion. We will get back when we have something to share.
Cheers. Sincerely, Eva.
Coordinator
Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network
P. O. Box 73860-00200
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254-20-4444832/ 4445020
Fax: 254-20-4445095/4440306
Email: epn@wananchi.com
Website: www.epnetwork.org
E-DRUG: Availability of parenteral phenorbabital
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The manufacturer of parenteral phenobarbitone
terminated the suppy of this product in Botswana.
Since then the Central Medical Stores has been trying
to source for this product from alternative suppliers
but without success. The main concern is the
management of status epilepticus refractary to the use
of benzodiazepines.
Other available alternatives are not as safe as this
product considering the health care system we have
here.
I would therefore like to know the experince of other
countries (preferably those with similar resourse
setting like ours) in terms of:
- Suppliers they have for parenteral phenobarbital
- Safer alternatives they have (including paediatric population)
Thank you.
J. Kgatlwane (Pharmacist)
Private bag 0038
Gaborone
e-mail: jkgatlwane@yahoo.com
E-DRUG: Donations group formed (2)
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Hi Eva,
It is intresting to be involved in drug donation issues.
The major problem normally encountered with drug donation is the intent of the donor agency and also the disruption of the receiving partner drugs legislation if any. However poor countries need food and also drugs for their survival.
The quality of the drugs and also the likelihood that the drugs are not banned in the donor's country should be taken into consideration before accepting any donation.
Pharm A M.Habeeb
pharmhabeeb@yahoo.co.uk
[These requirements are already in the donation guidelines from WHO. The problem is that so many donors ignore the guidelines. KM, moderator]
E-DRUG: Donations group formed (3)
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Hi All,
EPN and Eva have led a series of studies that are concern with access to medicine. Maybe this might be another area where studies can be carried out to understand why guidelines have problems. It is worth noting that many countries have abridged the interagency guideline on drug donation so much so that the savour of the document has been lost.
Robert Chana
Pharmacist
Presbyterian Church In Cameroon
Buea
Cameroon
chana_robert@yahoo.co.uk
[I know from personal experience that we struggled in my country with people who wanted to donate medicines returned to the pharmacies. These people said we did not know the grassroot, i.e. people in countries. They refused to acknowledge that many of us had actually worked with donations and knew the situation probably better than them. This can partly be solved by not issuing export license, as we did. But note that Pharmaciens sans Frontiéres have struggled for years with the French government to stop them sending returned medicines. And I learned in the Balkans that the International Red Cross (IRC) cannot stop national organisations from sending medicines that IRC would not send. E.g. in the Balkans we had donations from Egypt Red Cross with badly labelled products, medicines banned in other countries, expired medicines etc. KM, moderator]
E-DRUG: Availability of parenteral phenorbabital (2)
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Parenteral phenobarbital has been removed from the Canadian market as well. My understanding is that the removal is world-wide.
Joel Lexchin
121 Walmer Rd.
Toronto, ON
Canada
joel.lexchin@utoronto.ca
[In Norway treatment recommendations for status epilepticus are diazepam as first choice, then phenytoin (phosphenytoin), valproic acid and finally thiopental narcosis. Fenobarbitalsodium inj. can be manufactured by the hospital pharmacy, but is not recommended any more for this indication. KM, moderator]