E-drug: Re: Study on tax subsidies for donations of expiring drugs
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Dear all,
This is an interesting report. However, I understand that there is a
move to ensure that this arrangement is critically linked to Good
Donation Guidelines, as set out by WHO and promoted by a number
of organisations worldwide. It will be worth watching the outcome.
Regarding general terms, I think we need to focus on the quality of
the relationship between institutions such as WHO (and others like
the UK's NICE) and the pharma industry (private and public
initiative): I believe there is a need to establish whether pharma
industry has, over the last few years of this initiative and debate,
learnt anything about public concerns over these 'access' matters.
If we can show through some measure that pharma industry has
learnt a lot or that is has began to turn a new leaf, then that would
be significant. I believe there is a need to demonstrate to the
general public that this initiative has began to 'kick in' and that
recipients of healthcare are beginning to see benefits.
For example, how many quality global pharma companies are
making appropriate drug donations? How many quality pharma
companies are drug - dumping, and what has been done about
that? How many of these companies do not have dedicated offices
that form the link between them and WHO and governments?
Certainly things are not rosy, yet. But this move by the UK
government should be made to increase uptake of quality medicinal
products.
Without sounding naive, I would be happy to see indications of
which quality manufacturers in this sector have elements of good
practice in place, and who are aware of these public concerns.
Additionally, it would be great to see even a list of those in this
sector who have always been involved in good donation practice,
and given other services to the public sector. We do know of many
long-term projects in place funded by some quality pharma
companies. Rarely does one hear support and recognition for these
projects, much appreciated by patients.
I have deliberately separated quality pharma industry (those I have
seen are getting stuck in and have gone to a great extent to change
their policy, to meet the public sector demands) from those who are
operating in this sector purely for this business that it is (no
interests in public concerns).
Bonnie Fundafunda
ECHO UK
e-mail: bfunda@echohealth.org.uk
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