E-DRUG: Philippines and awards for good governance in Medicines (2)
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Further to the press article from Manila Bulletin Online, dated 7 August
2008, that was distributed to e-drug colleagues, here are a few points
on WHO's Good Governance for Medicines (GGM) programme. The programme's
goal is to reduce corruption in pharmaceutical sector systems through
the application of transparent, accountable administrative procedures
and the promotion of ethical practices.
WHO estimates that annually over US$ 4 trillion worldwide is spent
worldwide on health services (2005)[1]. Moreover, the value of the
global pharmaceutical market is estimated at over US$ 600 billion per
year (2005)[2]. Obviously, these funds are an attractive target for
abuse.
Furthermore, Transparency International estimates that 10 to 25% of
public procurement spending is lost to corruption[3] and that in some
countries two thirds of hospital medicines supplies are lost to
corruption and fraud[4].
In an attempt to tackle this corruption and guided by WHO's Medicines
Strategy 2004-2007, WHO initiated the GGM programme in 2004. Overcoming
corruption in the pharmaceutical sector requires a dynamic long-term
strategy and the implementation of good governance. The GGM programme
will build momentum to curb this abuse, as more and more public health
colleagues in ministries of health and national medicines regulatory
authorities rise to the challenge.
For more information on the WHO GGM programme please consult:
http://www.who.int/medicines/ggm
Dr Guitelle Baghdadi-Sabeti
Technical Officer
Good Governance for Medicines programme
Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies (EMP)
World Health Organization, Geneva
baghdadig@who.int
[1] http://www.who.int/nha/en/
[2] http://www.imshealth.com
[3] Transparency International, Curbing Corruption in Public Procurement Handbook, 2006.
[4] Transparency International, Global Corruption Report 2006.