E-DRUG: Sharing info on Adverse Drug Reactions (4)
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This refers to a message posted earlier this month (8 September, re.
Sharing Info on Adverse Drug Reactions and the WHO ADR database
accessibility).
I had forwarded Dr Jonathan Harper's questions to Prof Ralph Edwards,
Director of the Uppsala Monitoring Centre which maintains the Global ADR
database. And below I copy the relevant parts from Dr Edwards response
to me.
I request you to post this on E-Drug, removing some of the confusions
and myths regarding the accessibility of the WHO ADR database. Many
thanks for your assistance.
Shanthi Pal, M.Pharm PhD
Quality Assurance and Safety: Medicines
Department of Medicines Policy and Standards
World Health Organization
Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 22 791 1318
E-mail: pals@who.int
Website: http://www.who.int/medicines
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Dr Harper had asked:
Why does WHO Uppsala charge a fee? Can they provide an answer to this
question? Does not WHO Uppsala offer a free service to developing
countries?
Prof Edwards wrote:
1) There are pharmacovigilance (PV) centres in very many developing
countries who have total and free access to our database and basic
services
2) Where there are no PV centres we are always anxious to find a way of
creating associate membership of the WHO Programme, which will then get
them free access
3) In relation to all the above, access to Vigimed (an electronic
discussion group moderated by the Uppsala Centre) is a very useful
communication tool for the questions raised.
4) When we raise a charge, the principle followed is not to ask for more
than covering cost, unless a commercial company is involved.
5) If the search request is complex, much time is involved and we simply
can't cope without some income. It is important to stress that there is
NO Government prepared to fund our work.
6) Finally, why do they not ask us about a possible arrangement? I
wonder if someone on our staff has been too negative over a request. We
should get more information!