Dear Friends,
We at GLAS (Latin American Health Group based in Managua) are about to start a
new World Bank financed project in Nicaragua aimed at promoting the rational
use of drugs in the facilities of the public sector. We would like to ask for
your help by sharing with our project your experineces on what has worked to
promote the Rational Use of Drugs in your setting.
Very briefly, our proposal includes a first phase of rapid assessment or
research to look at the prescription patterns of prescribers and assess their
attitudes and practices . We will also look at what the opinion of the patients
is regarding the quality of the information they get and their understanting of
it, and what is the role of pharmacists in relation to the prescribers and
patients. We will take into account and assess the overall supply and policy
implementation situation.
The second phase of the project will start with a discusion of the results of
the study with the prescribers, pharmacists and health authorities at the local
level and suggestions for change at this level. This excersise will end in a
National Workshop on Rational Use of Drugs. These fora will have to yield a
series of models for intervention from which two will be selected and an action
plan will be developed (including specific activities and policy decision).
These models will be implemented in a series of health facilities in the third
phase of the project (some of the health facilities studied will be used as
controls).
The models will be implemented and followed up by the MOH and staff of the
project for a period of six months. A semester latter an evaluation of the
models' implementation and impact will be carried out which will help to draw
conclusions helpfull for the development of national policy and interventions in
this area.
Although we know the time span in short for implementation we believe some
changes should be apparent and some decisions could be made based on this pilot
project.
We believe there is a vast experience all over the world which would be helpful
to us when we design our interventions. That is why we are asking you to send us
any published and unpublished information which you think will help us
developing a more successfull project. We sincerely would appreciate any kind of
communication, especially your own practical experience.
Please send your information to either our mailing address:
GLAS - NADINE GASMAN
Nicabox 226
P.O. Box 52 7444
Miami FL 33152 7444
USA
Telephone and fax in Managua (5052) 78 48 39.
or by e-mail to: gasmanna@netmex.com.
We believe that this is an excellent opportunity to share information on your
experience of what has worked at different levels to promote rational use of
drugs and will very much appreciate any information,comment or suggestion that
will certainly enrich our project.
We hope to hear from you all very soon since we start the implementation of the
project very soon. Thank you in advance for your time andcooperation.
Sincerely yours,
Nadine Gasman.