E-DRUG: new Indian NGO website on essential drugs
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March 18, 2004. Kolkata.
Community Development Medicinal Unit, West Bengal, India, a premier NGO
engaged in the procurement and distribution of low cost essential medicines
and medical supplies, launched its website <www.cdmubengal.org> at a simple
but elegant ceremony at Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan Hospital,
Kolkata. The website seeks to provide a range of information on essential
drugs and rational therapeutics, in addition to providing details of CDMU�s
activities. This is the first effort of its kind by a NGO organization in
India and hopefully will integrate CDMU into the global village.
Various Government and World Health Organization (WHO) documents are
available for download from this website. CDMU�s essential drugs programs,
quality assurance norms, methodology of procurement from CDMU, the people
behind the organization are detailed in this website. Back issues of the
quarterly publication Rational Drug Bulletin are also available for download
along with topical news items. An important section on adverse drug reaction
with facility for online reporting of ADRs has been incorporated.
Speaking on the occasion as Chief Guest, Dr. Krisantha Weerasuriya, Head of
Essential Drugs & Medicines Policy, WHO South East Asian Regional Office
(WHO-SEARO), appreciated CDMU�s efforts and described it as a potential
one-stop source of information on rational therapeutics, drug policies and
access to essential medicines globally, in general, and in India, in
particular. He suggested inclusion of CDMU�s pricing information, as an
index to generic drug prices in India; a frequently asked question (FAQ)
section to explain the terminology in this field, and various relevant
public domain documents in the website to enhance its utility further. The
philosophy of essential drugs being already accepted in India, the need of
the hour is to enhance access and provide supporting information, a role
which this website can help CDMU to perform.
Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Dr. Amitava Sen
Project Coordinator
India
cdmudocu@vsnl.com
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