E-DRUG: New Leadership in WHO (contd)
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Dear E-Druggers,
I fully agree with the comments made and the concerns about Dr Scholz's
appointment and the possible dreadful influences of the pharmaceutical
industry on WHO drug policies.
But let's take all one step back at this stage, and try to see the
positive contributions the pharmaceutical industry may give to WHO as
an organisation, and to the international community as the receiver.
WHO is an international body, governed by member states. It has its
mission statement and mandate, and framework of work execution. It has
bodies to safeguard its status and independent position.
The budget of WHO comes from contributions of member states. There are
many countries which can or do not want to pay their contributions for
one reason or another. This affects the availability of funds and budget
cuts are the direct consequences.
WHO is NOT a funding organisation but an organisation for technical
advise and cooperation.
WHO is seen as the main organisation for international health. It has
regional offices and country representations and therefore maintains a
tremendous health network system which no organisation can claim. WHO is
the main source of international health information. If not available,
WHO can gain access to health information through its different levels
of operation.
At the moment the main support of WHO are in the fields of:
1. Information
The collection, processing and dissemination of objective,
scientifically based, and unbiased information. WHO is producing a lot
of sound documents, reference materials, and publications.
2. Meetings
WHO organises all kinds of meetings, such as international meetings,
expert meetings, consultative meetings, regional and country meetings.
3. Training/Fellowships
WHO organises often in collaborating with other institutions training
courses of short duration. WHO sponsors fellowships. All regular
WHO-country programmes have a fellowship component.
4. Expert Support
WHO supports countries in their implementation of planned activities
and when needed WHO identifies appropriate consultants for mainly short
duration.
5. Supplies and Equipment
WHO supports countries in supplies and equipment for supplementing the
need in the health care system, universities and research institutions.
These programme components can be found back in every WHO division or
Programme, such as DAP.
The contribution of the pharmaceutical industry should thus appear as
additional (extra-budgetary) support in the above 5 areas:
I think it will be easy to monitor and to follow-up on the
extra-budgetary (specified) support allocated to the different
components and formulated in project documents which will be endorsed
after verification by the governing bodies. These projects can be
monitored and evaluated. Aims, objectives and indicators are
normally included for these purposes.
The pharmaceutical industry may allocate funds for making available
WHO documents on the internet. For example, the full text of Model List
of Essential Drugs, of Technical Report Series, of News bulletins, of WHO
Forum etc. etc.
The pharmaceutical industry may play an important role in dissemination
of WHO information through their distribution channels.
The pharmaceutical industry may sponsor international meetings,
International Health Days, health topics and programmes on videos.
(Many oil companies, international law firms, chartered accountant
firms, newspapers etc. are the main sponsors for cultural events
(concerts, museum exhibitions, festivals etc.) in industrialised
countries).
The pharmaceutical industry should make available a fund for drug
research and development especially for institutions in developing
countries.
The pharmaceutical industry should sponsor fellows especially in drug
quality control, drug inspection, manufacturing, work floor/plant
management etc., etc.
The pharmaceutical industry should make available (free-of-charge)
personnel for short-term consultancies for follow-up on sponsored
training and country assistance.
The pharmaceutical industry can make funds available for medical
supplies and equipment for countries in greatest needs, supplies for
emergency response, including essential drugs. They may support
ministries of health and country libraries with computer equipment and
internet access, CD-ROM packages, prescriptions, satellite telephone/fax
connections etc.
In other words there is a lot the pharmaceutical industry can offer in
the good sense of assistance/support to the international community
through WHO.
Please be aware that WHO can only accept their support when its status
and position is respected by the pharmaceutical industry.
Let's be frank the health problems in the world can only be solved
properly with collaboration and cooperation. The frightening news that
no adequate antibiotics are available to combat superbugs in the coming
15 years is a situation we have to accept and to work out together.
On the other hand WHO can offer from its side the channels the industry
may use to develop with other research institutions, especially in the
developing countries, drugs and vaccines to combat public health related
diseases, including tropical diseases.
Regarding the involvement of NGOs in the work of WHO, the NGOs can play
a major role in assisting WHO at country level in the execution of the
extra-budgetary projects/programmes (where appropriate) which are
sponsored with funds from the pharmaceutical industry.
NGO community can play through their network system the watch dog role
in evaluating and monitoring progress of the various country projects
sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry.
From the international community side we may prospose to Dr Scholz
the indicated suggestions as mentioned above for negotiation with the
pharmaceutical industry. They may be happy to be directed in certain
areas.
I think it is our moral obligation to assist Dr Scholz in his work.
He is under tremendous pressure because the whole world is watching
him "how he will cross the sand-drifting fields", he has to perform
according to the expectations of the new Director General, and he is
obliged to himself and to his division to perform well. God bless
him.
Marthe M. Everard
Manager of WHO Collaborating Centre
The Robert Gordon University
School of Pharmacy
Schoolhill
Aberdeen AB10 1FR
Scotland
United Kingdom
Tel: #44-1224-262533
Fax: #44-1224-262555
E-mail: m.everard@rgu.ac.uk
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