Dear Mr. Woods,
I was very interested to read your ambitious proposal and would like to respond
by telling you a bit about what the U.S. Pharmacopeia(USP) is doing with
developing countries. In a cooperative agreement with USAID, USP is working
through the Rational Pharmaceuticals Management Project (RPM) to provide up to
date, unbiased drug information to three developing countries. As you may be
aware, USP establishes the manufacturing standards for pharmaceuticals in the
U.S. Although the USP is a private, not for profit organization, our standards
are enforced by our national regulatory body, the FDA.
USP maintains a large drug information database, the USP DI, which is provided
annually in hard copy with monthly updates to subscribers. The DI is now
available in an electronic version. By providing the the DI in SGML format to
developing countries we are able to assist them in adapting it for the local
environment and producing spin-off products such as drug formularies, standard
treatment guidelines, etc. Through RPM we are also providing technical
assistance to establish drug information centers and conduct workshops on drug
information and rational drug use. In addition, to RPM we have been able to
negotiate commercial agreements to translate the DI into Spanish, Portuguese and
Russian. Although our agreement with USAID may end in a few years, we are
interested in working with other organizations and countries to continue these
activities.
Sincerely,
Nancy L. Blum, M.P.H.
International Programs Coordinator
Division of Information Development
U.S. Pharmacopeia
12601 Twinbrook Parkway
Rockville, MD 20851 U.S.A.
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