E-DRUG: For Bakari: Possibility for WHO to make medicines, vaccines available?
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Pleasure to have the valuable services of the expert.
Isn't it possible for WHO to manufacture/procure/make available quality essential medicines at affordable price like vaccines?
If WHO can do it, countries which do not have manufacturing facilities and are dependent on costly imports stand to benefit. Health of marginalized populations which are in actual need of essential medicines, can be improved. Exploitation at the hands of pharmaceutical industry can be stopped. Nonavailability, artificial shortage, black marketing, counterfeits etc can be checked. Increased demand during calamities can be effectively met. Supply lines can be managed to meet the emergencies around the globe. And the goal of Health for all can be realized.
Dr Vijay Thawani, MD
Associate Professor in Pharmacology,
Govt. Medical College, Nagpur, India
"Vijay Thawani" <vijaythawani@rediffmail.com>
E-DRUG: Possibility for WHO to make medicines, vaccines available? (2)
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Dear Vijay Thawani,
WHO/UNICEF may only share the prices quoted to them
which can be the guidelines for the importing country to negotiate with the
supplier and neighbouring countries who can go for pooled purchases like SARC
countries then they might get even batter rates at good quality.
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Syed Khalid Saeed Bukhari
B.Pharm,M.Pharm,M.Phil(Clin.Pharm),FRSC,MCPA
Coordinator/Team Leader For E.D.M.
WHO, Islamabad, Pakistan
Mob.# +92-300-4005935
"Khalid Saeed Bukhari" <skhs77@gmail.com>
E-DRUG: Possibility for WHO to make medicines, vaccines available? (3)
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Hi Vijay,
I concur with Khalid's view and feel that it is unfair to overburden the
the already overburdened WHO with the practical vaccines
manufacturing/logistics arrangements. As a an active 'moderator', the
WHO can at best voice the poor countries vaccines need compared to
financial resources availability according to the later initiatives.
It is a fact that the pharmaceutical industry invest a lot in
researching for the vaccines and other drugs. As business entities they
need to recoup this investiment. However, as you correctly put it,
there has been some level of exploitation that needs to be checked.
Options like pooled procurement and direct consultations with the
vacciness manufacturers can be helpful.
Experience has shown that in the worst case, poor countries can form a
united front and voice their concern through WHO and other
international bodies. This matters a lot in the globalised economy where
consumer voices have been empowered and can tilt the scale.
Lets collaborate starting with the less combative inititiaves!
Bakari
c/- e-drug@healthnet.org
bakari@email.unc.edu