E-drug: Quality and use of drugs (cont'd)
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George,
The current WHO Medicines Strategy (2000-2003), indeed the
functional structure of the Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy
Department at WHO headquarters, in Geneva, bears your concern
out clearly. I am happy to strike this WHO cord because I had the
opportunity, as a former staff member, of participating in its often
laborious and painstaking development. I suggest that you visit the
WHO website http:/www.who.int/medicines, for more information.
However, please note I refer to the functional structure at "HQ!".
What obtains at WHO "country" office is not necessarily the same,
to put it in a friendly way. They say it is a matter of resources but,
whatever, this is where the crux of the matter will continue to lie. I
think the time has come, better late than never, for all concerned
about the Policy, Access, Quality/Safety and Rational Use of
medicines, particularly in developing countries, to be more proactive
in helping WHO global policy filter into countries and, a very long
shot, households. It is our Ministers of Health and DGs of Medical
Services who go to the World Health Assembly year in and year
out. They should be asked to help when they return home. It is the
mothers and fathers whose children die because they unknowingly
bought and administered to them spurious paracetamol syrup, so let
them be informed and educated. Do you see where most of the
energy and sacrifice for promoting access to drugs in recent times
has come from? It has to be another wake up call.
Murtada M Sesay
UNICEF Bangladesh
e-mail: msesay@unicef.org
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