E-DRUG: Drug donations - will we ever learn?: Action? (2)
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Dear E-druggers,
PQMD strongly supports Eva Ombaka's call to action on the very disturbing
PSF report on inappropriate, outdated and excessive drug donations in Aceh.
Floods of bad drug donations in the wake of disaster are, sadly, a
long-standing problem. It might be helpful to strengthen the WHO Guidelines as Eva suggests, but the larger challenge, I think, is to increase awareness of and compliance with the Guidelines.
A 2002 study traced the sources of tons of bad drug donations after
disasters in East Timor, El Salvador, India and Mozambique. It was sponsored by the World Bank and WHO and conducted by AEDES. PQMD participated with observer status. In the four countries visited, no inappropriate drug donations were attributed to NGOs experienced in the delivery of medical care or their pharmaceutical company partners. Responsibility for the many bad donations was attributed to three sources: inexperienced NGOs, government agencies and in-country wholesale druggists.
We should build on this experience. We hope that the organizations
responsible for inappropriate donations in Aceh can be identified so that a concerted, focused effort to "educate" them can begin.
Jim
James B. Russo
Executive Director
The Partnership for Quality Medical Donations
www.pqmd.org
146 Koenig Rd.
Bernville, PA 19506 USA
610 488 8303
610 488 7036 (fax)
484 269 6470 (mobile)
jbrusso@pqmd.org