E-DRUG: Inappropriate donations and WHO Guidelines (2)
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As I was reading the contribution of Dr. Geoff Crumplin to the drug donation debate, I could not but ask whether there has been any assessment of the impact of the Interagency Drug Donation Guidelines in countries.
There are some questions I would like such an assessment to respond to.
1. How many countries have indeed adapted this guidelines to their country use?
2. How many have set up mechanisms to ensure implementation of the guidelines at country level?
3. How many countries have dissemminated these guidelines to those who are in the forefront of receiving donations?
3. How many have received inappropriate drug donations despite setting up structures to ensure that drug donations are rational?
As we all know, an unimplemented guideline is as good as none.
Looking back at the contributions of the e-druggers, I could not find some other examples of inappropriate donations cited. It is possible that the guidelines have indeed caused improvements in the donation of medicines in countries that have bothered to adapt them to their use. It is possible that isolated cases of violations are the ones talked about. We do not have the whole picture.
To my mind, the way forward would be to conduct an inter-country assessment which will tell us where we are, where the loopholes are and then we can fashion out appropriate responses to the issues. Without such evidence, we may get resolutions passed which would still not respond to the problems.
NOTE: The opinion expressed is mine and not that of the World Health Organisation.
Dr. Ogori Taylor
Pharmaceutical Adviser,
WHO, Nigeria
Ogori Taylor <ogoritaylor@yahoo.com>