E-drug: Provision of medicines a truly global equity problem
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Hello,
Again The Economist (18th-24th October 2003) sites an example
of an issue which might interest some of us
The title of the article is "Prescription drugs ho"!
The article describes and discusses what is happening in the
United States and Canada. Some older Americans are streaming
north to Canada to get cheaper prescription drugs. "The governor
of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, launched an online petition-drive to
pressure the federal Food and Drugs and Administration (FDA) to
lift its ban on drug "re-imports" (medicines made in America, sold
abroad and brought back for consumption) by states"
As far as I am concerned it seems funny that a country would
produce a good, export it to another country (obviously with the
intention of boosting the economy) then have individuals go buy
the good at a cheaper rate from the country to where the good was
exported.
Do countries produce drugs primarily for the needs of their citizens
or for export? Where is the priority? Well the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) had several discussions to get third world
countries to produce cheaper generic drugs for their needs not for
export.
The American healthcare system has come under intense scrutiny
regarding its policies relating to the elderly.
Unfortunately we are at a point where healthcare goods are also
regarded as other goods bought from the supermarket.
Global equity has been thrown out of the window. Not only in
America do the elderly and the poor face such a problem, but all
over the world especially in third world countries as well.
If we understand what equity means and we are prepared to
practice equity then as far as healthcare is concerned our main
priority should be the distribution of health care as far as possible,
and as far as finance and funds would allow according to the needs
of individuals rather than the ability to pay.
Thanks,
Alfred Sackeyfio MRPharmS PG Dip Health Economics
(Special Interests Pharmacoeconomics)
Hospital and Retail Pharmacist
Tel 0044 161 225 7182
Mobile 00447713 250 929
email: awnsack@aol.com
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