E-DRUG: 'Rigorous evaluation of industry-led Access to Medicines programs in low- and middle-income countries'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear E Druggers,
I am reposting this message as the room information has changed. I know that 7am is early especially for people who have travelled but I do hope that people who are interested in the interface between health systems and Access to NCD Medicines will be able to attend. Do please encourage any of your colleagues who will be attending the conference to attend if they can.
Here is the updated message from a couple of weeks ago,
Richard
As some of you may be attending the Vancouver Health Systems Research conference in Vancouver in a couple of weeks, I am very pleased to invite you to our Discussion session 'Rigorous evaluation of industry-led Access to Medicines programs in low- and middle-income countries' on Nov 16th 7:00-8:15am in the Room Coal Harbor in the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver.
The session has two main objectives:
1. To review the quality of the existing evidence on the effectiveness of recent Access to Medicines (AtM) programs operated by pharmaceutical companies in developing countries; and
2. To describe and discuss a new research study that aims to rigorously evaluate the impact of Novartis Access, an NCD Access to Medicines initiative being implemented in Kenya.
Veronika Wirtz from Boston University will present a review of industry-led Access to Medicines programs, with a focus on program strategies and the quality of existing evidence. Then, Peter Rockers from Boston University will present an overview of a cluster-randomized trial being conducted in Kenya that will evaluate the impact of Novartis Access on availability and affordability of NCD medicines.
Both presentations will be followed by a commentary from Arash Rashidian, Professor at University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran and currently Director of Research, Eastern Mediterranean Region, World Health Organization, Cairo, Egypt. The remainder of the session will be dedicated to an open discussion with the audience to obtain comments and suggestions for future evaluations.
Please find the detailed the program attached.
Due to limited venue capacity please sign up for the session under
Novartis is paying for the venue and the refreshments provided but is not paying presenters and has no control over the scientific contents of this session.
Time Agenda
7-7:05 Welcome and opening remarks
7:05-7:20 Review of Access to Medicines initiatives led by pharmaceutical industry Veronika Wirtz, BU
7:20-7:35 Evaluation of Novartis Access in Kenya Peter Rockers, BU
7:35-7:45 Commentary, Arash Rashidian
7:45-8:10 Discussion - including audience
8:10-8:15 Closing remarks
End
Target audience: health system researchers, industry representatives, donors, government representatives, intergovernmental agencies, non-governmental organizations.
I would be delighted if you can attend. Your comments and contributions during the discussion are very much appreciated.
Please pass along this invitation to colleagues who are interested in the subject. If you are unable to attend please forward this to other colleagues within your institution.
Richard Laing
Professor, Department of Global Health
Boston University School of Public Health,
801 Massachusetts Avenue Boston MA 02118
Tel 617 414 1445 (Office) 617 435 7860 (Mobile)
E mail richardl@bu.edu