E-DRUG: For a Balanced Debate, Let the Pharmaceutical Industry Speak
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Dear E-drug Users,
Something good can be made of every bad thing. One such bad thing for the Pharmaceutical Industry is the issue of access to cheap medicines.
No question about it, the issue of access to cheap substances is genuine. Unfortunately, we sometimes blow it out of proportion. We seem to disregard the fact that real human beings desire to make profits and to make a living and organise resources to think more, run the Pharmaceutical Industry. Just as all Industries do, they must make money, anyway. So, any desire to accelerate access to cheap medicines has to be as considerate as to lay strategies for a win-win situation. Not, I would sense, an attitude of stop making money, stop organising research, we want cheap medicines from you because we are dying! This attitude could as well cause more trouble in the future as the Industry recoils into an unwarranted remorse.
Having noted this, the responses we get from lay people about the Pharmaceutical Industry for refusing to produce cheap medicines require illuminating from an informed, balanced perspective. Just as people crucifying the Industry--so to speak, are using the media to sort of show how unfair the Industry is, the Industry must not watch on
Why doesn't the Pharmaceutical Industry for example work with FIP to come-up and address issues affecting the Sector worldwide? HIV/AIDS care is, but one. Other problems like TB, Malaria and now diseases of lifestyle are affecting poor people. Why not steer the Pharmaceutical Sectorothers may mislead the masses as far as it is concerned. Indeed there are many players in the Pharmaceutical Sector, but the key persons therein are pharmacy professionals so that when we do not act, some unwholesome evidence mixed with many rumours may spoil the sector for the future.
Since the arrangement portraying the Pharmaceutical Sector in the negative sense is using the media as noted above, the Pharmaceutical Industry must exactly use the same means to educate all including policy makers about exactly how pharmacists can help improve healthcare systems worldwide. The Industry can also demystify the issue of Research and Development costsand how they must morally make moneyjust as other Industries do. The food Industry is making money, but people are dying of malnutrition in the third world! Because you badly need soap for good hygiene and as a preventive strategy and thereby reduce need for medicines, the Soap Factory should not operate at a loss...Alright people are not directly dying because of lack of washing with soap and water after toilet. But how much have we done in this area?
The Pharmaceutical Industry should develop an Advocacy Mechanism to counter engage criticism that comes off sometimes, may be jealousy?
Although the critics have a point, the Pharmaceutical Industry has points too. But the concern of the critics requires balancing in order that it can be accompanied with a broader view and justiceand not so much of just feelingsbut also reality. FIP should I think, organise experienced persons from the Pharmaceutical Industry with a touch for communities; make use of their enormous potential to assertively engage the channels of communication known to manabout access to medicines and associated services.
George Kibumba, MPS (Uganda)
Msc. Student (Sept 2004-Sept 2005),
Pharmaceutical Services and Medicines Control,
University of Bradford,
Wardley House,
Flat A3, Room 1,
Bradford,
BD5 0AE, United Kingdom.
Personal e-mail: kibumba@yahoo.com
Student e-mail: G.Kibumba@bradford.ac.uk