E-DRUG: First analysis of human rights principles in 71 national medicine policies
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Dear e-druggers,
I would like to draw your attention to a recent article published by Katrina Perehudoff, Nikita Alexandrov and myself: 'The right to health as the basis for universal health coverage: A cross-national analysis of national medicines policies of 71 countries' in PLoS One.
The paper is available here: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0215577.
The paper is part of a larger project producing policy tools, analyses, and evidence to inform national policy makers, advocates, and advisory bodies (such as WHO and the World Bank) about writing and reforming legislation for medicines financing and affordability as part of UHC. For more information, please contact Dr. Katrina Perehudoff (mailto:katrina.perehudoff@gmail.com).
Why is this research novel:
This is the first analysis of the human rights content (12 principles including transparency, good governance, financial coverage, and IP management) of 71 of the most recent full-text national medicines policies available around the globe. We developed a practical policy wish list that serves as a checklist of 12 policy measures (linking a health systems approach to essential medicines with international human rights law for medicines affordability and financing for vulnerable groups) to be included in national policy for access to medicines.
Main findings:
MM Four principles (legal right to health; government financing; efficient spending including through IP management; and financial protection of vulnerable populations) are significantly stronger in national medicines policies published after 2004 than before; 2)
WHO's 2001 guidelines on developing and implementing a national medicines policy may have instructed the language and content of subsequent national medicines policies; and 3) Overall, South Africa (1996), Indonesia and South Sudan (2006), Philippines (2011-2016), Malaysia (2012), Somalia (2013), Afghanistan (2014), and Uganda (2015) include the most relevant texts and can be used as models for other settings. Samples of possible model texts from various NMPS are given in an annex to the paper.
Practical implications:
WHO, national policy makers, and advocates can use the 12-point policy checklist and practical examples identified in our study (ex. about the right to health, cost-effective spending and the use of TRIPS flexibilities, and international assistance and cooperation) to further align national medicines policies with human rights law and SDG Target 3.8.
Kindly note change of address and e-mail account:
Hans V Hogerzeil, MD, PhD, FRCP
De Grunerie
Van Cuycklaan 16
2343 AJ Oegstgeest
The Netherlands
tel +31-71-5326853
mob +31-6-57414530
hans.hogerzeil@kpnmail.nl