E-drug: SEAM Program country initiatives
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Dear E-druggers,
The Strategies for Enhancing Access to Medicines (SEAM) Program
has announced its country initiatives. The press release announcing
country selection and more detailed information on the specific
initiatives for each country can be found on the recently updated
SEAM Web site www.msh.org/seam. Information on the country
assessments that served as the basis for country selection and
program development can be found on the SEAM 2001 Conference
Web site www.msh.org/seam/conference.
Key points relating to the SEAM country program announcement
include:
--MSH's Center for Pharmaceutical Management (CPM) will work in
Ghana, Tanzania, and El Salvador over the next three years to
establish effective systems for providing quality medicines and
health services at affordable prices.
--In GHANA, technical support will be provided to establish a
network of essential medicines franchises, with a focus on reaching
underserved rural areas. The franchises will be monitored by the
government to ensure that the products and services are of high
quality. However, they will operate in the private sector and owners
will have incentives and benefits to encourage provision and
delivery of high quality medicines and services at affordable prices.
A second component of the Ghana program will focus on improving
procurement services to assure availability of high quality drugs and
pharmaceutical services in private, faith-based hospitals.
--In TANZANIA, the program will help establish a network of private
accredited drug dispensing outlets, which can provide a range of
quality essential medicines and services at reasonable prices. SEAM
will also assist the Ministry of Health of Tanzania in their selection
of one or more commercial wholesalers to serve as pharmaceutical
suppliers. By selecting a limited number of suppliers, the Ministry
will be able to better monitor the quality and price of products sold
to public and private health facilities as well as the accredited drug
dispensing outlets. SEAM will also provide technical assistance to
the Ministry in developing and implementing a program for ensuring
the quality of pharmaceutical products in the Tanzanian
marketplace.
--In EL SALVADOR, the initiative will focus specifically on improving
access to medicines in hospital settings and outpatient clinics.
These facilities provide care for nearly 50 percent of El Salvador's
six million people, yet they are often unable to maintain a sufficient
stock of essential medicines to effectively treat patients. In an
effort to improve the availability of medicines in these facilities,
SEAM will work with the government of El Salvador to engage a
commercial wholesaler to provide inventory management and
distribution services to a network of 30 hospitals and 130
outpatient clinics. By purchasing medicines from a single
wholesaler, the government can better ensure an adequate supply
of drugs, monitor their quality, and will be empowered to negotiate
and control prices with the wholesaler.
To follow progress on the SEAM country programs, please regularly
check the SEAM Web site.
If you have questions or comments about the SEAM initiative,
please contact us by e-mail at seam@msh.org.
Thank you.
Keith W. Johnson
Deputy Director, Strategic Drug Management Information
MSH Center for Pharmaceutical Management
4301 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite #400
Arlington, VA 22203, U.S.A.
Direct telephone: 1-703-248-1609
General telephone: 1-703-524-6575
Telefax: 1-703-524-7898
E-mail: kjohnson@msh.org
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