E-DRUG: Strategies for RDU on the political agenda
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Dear colleagues,
At the WHA 2005, Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) and Health Action International (HAI) facilitated a session that looked at how to put rational drug use on the political agenda. Below is the summary of the great suggestions made by the participants.
We are interested in more comments, input and hopefully, implementation.
Sincerely,
Eva M A Ombaka.
Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network
P. O. Box 73860-00200
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254-20-4444832/ 4445020
Fax: 254-20-4445095/4440306
Email: epn@wananchi.com
Website: <http://www.epnetwork.org>
STRATEGIES TO MAKE RATIONAL DRUG USE PART OF THE POLITICAL AGENDA.
(Summary of suggestions by participants to a session organized by Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) and Health Action International (HAI) on 18th May at the World Health Assembly 2005)
Measuring the impact/obtaining the evidence
Studies should be done to evaluate the impact on drug use of strategies that have been developed and implemented and the findings documented and disseminated to all stakeholders. This would provide evidence that rational use saves on time, finances and the health of
individuals on a large scale and, vice-versa, that irrational use harms health and wastes resources.
Activities proposed include
- carrying out cost benefit analysis;
- providing cost implication of irrational drug use to politicians;
- quantifying the drug misuse;
- documenting the cost in terms of burden of disease, mortality and morbidity due to irrational use; and
- publicising financial incentive fuelling irrational drug use.
Formation of alliances
Alliances should be formed between prescribers, consumers (community members) and politicians as this will ensure that all stake-holders are working towards common goals. In addition, policies and strategies to promote rational drug use should overlap with major
health programmes like HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB and drug and substance abuse.
Activities proposed include
- inviting politicians to venues where the benefits of rational drug use to their constituencies is highlighted;
- provide evidence to the youth and communities on the links between irrational drug use and their lack of access to useful and safe drugs;
- integrate rational drug use requirements in development programmes.
Communication strategies
By using the media on a wider scale, clear communication strategies can be developed to put rational drug use on the political agenda. This gives knowledge to individuals, consumers and their communities and raises levels of awareness in areas like exposing risks of irrational use and giving information on the drug resistance problem.
Activities proposed include
- providing regular updates to media on positive messages for rational drug use;
- highlighting consequences of irrational drug use such as deaths from resistant organisms;
- naming and shaming activities promoting irrational drug use.
Empowerment of consumers and communities
Consumers and communities can be empowered in the use of medicine e.g. in areas of antibiotics use which are amongst the most abused medicines.
Activities proposed include
- carrying out simple rational drug use activities with communities for step by step learning of rational drug use;
- providing communities with information to enable them and grassroots groups to demand appropriate use of medicines.
Providing practical messages
Countries that have managed to implement policies with positive outcomes should document and promote their successes. This can be done by starting to use simple and practical messages that focus on one issue at a time so as to avoid information overload that can cause confusion or misunderstanding.
Activities proposed include
- marketing widely the Sweden model on antibiotic use;
- make the positive ICIUM outcomes more widely known and replicated;
- successful experiences be shared within the country through support of local WHO offices and / or Ministries of Health.
Advocacy and lobbying
Advocacy for rational drug use should be done with all stake holders i.e. governments, donors, training institutions and student associations. This ensures that all who are involved in medicines are made part of the political agenda.
Activities proposed include
- making RDU part of training curriculum;
- making presentation on RDU at all possible venues;
- providing politicians with data for their deliberations in parliament;
- providing factual sheets on RDU to lobbyists.
Address at global level
Policies on rational drug use should be clearly defined and supported by organizations at the global level e.g. WHO, World Bank, Global Fund, PEPFAR etc. which makes it easier to implement the policies at lower levels i.e. regional, national, and community level.
Activities proposed include
- passing of a strong resolution on RDU at the World Health Assembly;
- allocation of funds for promoting RDU in the budgets;
- including RDU as requirement in agreements;
- include addressing RDU as part of strengthening health systems.
Address industry power
WHO and other international organizations should address "big pharma" issues such as the pharmaceutical industry in developed countries which are producing and promoting drugs mainly for the very profitable markets of industrialized countries, while neglecting much-needed medicines for illnesses that affect the poor and vulnerable people in resource limited countries.
Activities proposed include
- providing leadership in addressing excesses of the pharmaceutical industry that lead to irrational drug use;
- urging industries to live up to their social responsibilities.