Dear friends,
I am writing to inform you of a project the HAI-Europe office is carrying out
to make information on problem drugs -- drugs which are ineffective, harmful,
unnecessarily costly or used irrationally -- available in developing countries.
We have received funding from a Germany charity, Misereor, which allows us
to distribute free copies of the Problem Drugs pack to health NGOs, health
centres, medical community groups, education facilities and for seminars and
workshops in developing countries. The main criterion for this distribution is
that it is for the non-profit and governmental sector. Wherever possible, we
try to send it to libraries or centres where it may be shared by several people,
and to recipients who are able to use it for health care, advocacy or policy
development.
Problem Drugs is an information pack produced in 1993 by HAI-Europe and
written by Andrew Chetley. It contains articles on: children and drugs, drugs
and the elderly, women and drugs, antidiarrhoeals, antibiotics, cough and cold
remedies, analgesics, vitamins, growth stimulants, contraceptives, drugs in
pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy and psychotropics. The analysis is
international in scope and contains clear recommendations for action and for
appropriate therapy. The format allows for easy photocopying of individual
sections for use as course materials on a specific topic. A recent review in the
British Medical Journal concluded by saying, "Problem Drugs should be a
mandatory text for all young doctors and medical students -- it could saves
lives, and the health service a lot of money."
Problem Drugs also includes information on national regulatory decisions
banning or restricting use of specific drugs. It is available in English, Spanish
and Bengali (via an organisation in Bangladesh).
Please feel free to get back in touch with me if you would like more
information about this initiative for free distribution. Our funding allows for
surface mail rates so please allow plenty of time if you would like to use this
pack as a resource for a workshop or other event. If you are from an
industrialised country or in the business sector in a developing country, I can
also send you pricing and ordering information.
With best regards,
Barbara Mintzes
HAI-Europe