E-DRUG: Medicines for Chronic Diseases: too costly, too scarce, ignored?
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Dear E-druggers
Those attending the World Health Assembly are invited to a Health Action International / World Health Organization briefing entitled Medicines for Chronic Diseases: too costly, too scarce, too important to ignore.
The briefing will be held on Wednesday 24 May, 1800-1930, in Room 23 at the Palais. It will be co-chaired by Dr Hussein Gezairy, Regional Director of WHO EMRO and Dr Catherine Le-Gales-Camus, Assistant Director-General.
Three presentations will be given:
- Price, availability and affordability of medicines for chronic diseases (Marg Ewen, HAI Europe)
- Case study: evidence, policy and advocacy in West Bengal, India (Dalia Dey, CUTS)
- Access issues of second line treatment with ARVs (Carmen Peres Casas, MSF)
A report on the price, availability and affordability of 14 chronic disease medicines in 30 countries will be launched at the briefing. The data is from surveys undertaken using the WHO/HAI medicine price measurement methodology.
HAI Europe has also drafted a briefing paper on medicine prices for both acute and chronic conditions, outlining the problems of high prices, unaffordable treatments, low availability (especially in the public sector), excessive mark-ups, and governments that tax essential medicines.
A copy of the HAI briefing paper and report on chronic disease medicines will be on the HAI web site on Wednesday 24 May (www.haiweb.org/medicineprices)
Regards
Margaret Ewen
Principal, Global Projects
Health Action International (HAI) Europe
Jacob van Lennepkade 334T
1053 NJ Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 489 1846 (direct), +31 20 683 3684 (office)
Fax: +31 20685 5002
Email: marg@haiweb.org
Web site: http://www.haiweb.org
Health Action International (HAI) is an independent, global network working to increase access to essential medicines and improve their rational use