E-DRUG: Oxfam: Rich countries betraying their obligations to help poor countries (2)
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Hi
There is nothing new in the attitude of the rich countries. They are rich by virtue of exploiting the poor ones. Their success to richness has thrived on discrimination, bullying,throttling the aid, sanctions and bombing if nothing else works! No declaration, treaty can succeed till there is change in the mind set of the rich. Since the rich would like to be richer, it obviously will be balanced by poor getting poorer. Medicine affordability is no exception.If it has not improved after 5 years of Doha declaration, it won't work for next 50 years, if attitudes don't change.
Dr Vijay Thawani,
14-A, Jeevan Jyoti, Clarke Town,
Nagpur-440 004, India.
Associate Professor in Pharmacology,
Govt. Medical College, Nagpur-440 003, India.
Net group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/netrum
Blog: http://vijaythawani.blogspot.com
Land line:(Res)+91-712-2522977
Cell: +91-9860006147
E-DRUG: Oxfam: Rich countries betraying their obligations to help poor countries (3)
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[Somewhat outside scope of e-drug but will let the discussion run for the time being, having allowoed the previous comment. Moderator]
I find Dr. Thawani¹s indictment of rich countries to be a bit harsh. As an
international health consultant I have worked with a number of healthcare
providers who have said that donors should just ³STOP giving² because the
funds do not end up in the hands of those who need the funds most. Perhaps
if it were possible to ensure appropriate distribution of scarce resources
rich¹ nations would be more inclined to give. It becomes increasingly
difficult to justify international aid when it appears that there is little
to show for it.
Is anyone aware of a viable approach to monitor the distribution of
healthcare funds and supplies that gives donors the confidence that good is
being done? Yesterday I had the opportunity to see David Evans speak at a
Harvard seminar where he presented the problem from both the donor and
recipient sides; donors are not living up to their promise, and of the aid
that is delivered a disappointing percentage ends up where it should.
Thoughts?
Ron Marrocco
Medical Technology and International Health Consulting
http://www.ronmarrocco.com
P: 617-680-8411
Email: ron@ronmarrocco.com
E-DRUG: Oxfam: Rich countries betraying their obligations to help poor countries (4)
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It is very interesting that we speak about the poor donor who struggles to make sure that help reaches the right person...the only solution to this is to make sure that drugs are affordable and the poor will go right out and buy them when they are sick and in doses they need...in Africa, in India and in Latin America too.....This will eliminate middle men and
consultants who usually get 60% of the amount committed by the donor anyway . The poor countries do not usually like charity.
Dr. Veena Shatrugna
Deputy Director
National Institute of Nutrition
Hyderabad
India 500007
veena52@yahoo.com
E-DRUG: Optimising donor contributions
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Dear Dr. Shatrugna,
I am encouraged to share an experience after reading your email. [Rich countries betraying their obligations to help poor countries (4)].
In the Philippines, there is an initiative to improve access to essential pharmaceuticals and Family Planning commodities by the poor families (constituting around 40% of populatio of 85 million plus). The initiative uses social franchising as a mode of distribution. At the end of the 5th year, the initiative is able to demonstrate that it kept the seed capital provided by sponsoring partners. It has a system that is running with much room for improvement of course. The social franchisees grew into 340+ outlets, with a central procurement and distribution that is owned by a not-for-profit non-government organization and managed by a professional team. This initiative is a program of the government Ministry of Health within its Health Sector Reform Agenda with bilateral assistance from the German government.
One of the expressed organizational goals is to maintain the Revolving Drug Fund contributed by the sponsors and to operate out of an increasing gross profit margin, with a full vision to be self sustaining in the nearest future. I should say that this initiative is trying to optimize donor contribution by managing this contribution as investment that should be made to grow and earn in order to finance operations and services.
May we know if there are similar initiatives so that we can compare notes?
Yours,
Fe Remotigue
Advisor, Pharmaceutical Unit
GTZ Philippines Health Program
2/F Bldg. 3, Department of Health
San Lazaro Compound,
Sta. Cruz, Manila, Philippines
e-mail: teofila.remotigue@gtz.de