E-DRUG: In memory of Jacques Pinel
----------------------------------
[It is with great sadness that E-Drug receives this message. Jacques Pinel was one of the big promotors of access to good quality essential medicines.
We wish his family all the strength to cope with this loss.
His funeral is already Wednesday, so e-druggers who wish to support Jacques family, please send your memories fast to Carmen as indicated below. WB]
Dear all,
On Friday 14 August our dear friend and colleague Jacques Pinel passed away. We bring this message to you with great sadness but also with a feeling of gratitude to have had the privilege to work with such a wonderful man. Jacques was a historical figure within Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and for the global pharmaceutical and medical world to which he contributed so much.
Jacques was trained as a pharmacist. He joined MSF in 1979 in Thailand to assist Cambodian refugees He assisted the MSF team in organising the mission inventing what would later become “MSF Logistics”, a major asset to the effectiveness and reputation of MSF operations until this day.
Jacques focussed on everything being prepared and conditions in place so that medical teams could focus on providing care to patients. He also adapted the concept of emergency boxes used by rescuers and created the first emergency kits: ready for use in emergency situations, applying the best possible standards, supporting the deployment of medical operations. He also pioneered the first MSF guidelines, including the Essential Medicines Guidelines, widely used by MSF teams and beyond.
His commitment and unrelenting attention to the best possible deployment of MSF missions led Jacques to create “MSF Logistique”, MSF’s supply division of which he remained the honorary president. Over the years he played a key role in various MSF departments supporting operations in the field. Jacques had an interest in all aspects of the work and has contributed so extensively to the work of MSF, that it would be impossible to describe it all. But one needs mentioning and that is his role in creating the MSF Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, which he established together with Bernard Pécoul in 1999. And in the wake of that the formation of the international network of pharmacists which increased pharmaceutical support to MSF’s operations as well as MSF’s involvement in policy developments such as advocating for the WHO prequalification.
No barrier was too high for him to bring essential medicines of assured quality, at an affordable price, to the populations in need. He would overcome barriers by bringing the people together and find the best solution.
He loved to tell rich and beautiful stories, full with lessons and we loved to listen to him. All those who knew him will always remember his unwavering commitment, his friendly smile, his kindness, his constant availability to respond to numerous requests, his memos and his sticky notes ...
We will never forget him and his contributions to the lives of so many. We owe it to him to continue his work.
Jacques was an active member of the E-drug/e-med community.
Those of you who would like to send a message to his family please address them to Carmen Perez: carmenpcasas@gmail.com
All messages received will be compiled in a Memorial Book for his family.
On behalf of many other (former) colleagues and friends of Jacques,
Carmen Perez-Casas, Cecile Mace, Ellen ‘t Hoen
Ellen 't Hoen, LLM | Medicines Law & Policy
phone: +33 695048388
e-mail: ellenthoen@medicineslawandpolicy.net
Twitter:@ellenthoen
Skype: efmthoen