[e-drug] Technical Briefing Seminar 1-5 November 2010 Applications now open

e-drug
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E-DRUG: Technical Briefing Seminar 1-5 November 2010 Applications now open
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WHO/UNICEF Technical Briefing Seminar on Essential Medicines (English)
Venue: WHO-Geneva, Switzerland

The WHO Department of Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies is announcing and inviting participants to the 2010 WHO/UNICEF Joint Technical Briefing Seminar on Essential Medicines .

For the last 15 years WHO have been running this seminar for people active in pharmaceutical support programmes.
* staff from governments and non-governmental organizations;
* medicines experts working in the public sector, in academic institutions or in consulting, private and civil society organizations;
* technical advisers and field staff of WHO, as well as staff from other UN and bilateral agencies.

The seminar aims to provide technical updates on a range of medicines issues and programmatic approaches in pharmaceutical system The seminar encourages discussions between participants and experts on topics related to medicines quality, access and use. During the course the current website
http://www.who.int/medicines/technical_briefing/tbs/en/index.html is updated with materials in electronic format so that participants and others can use these in their own work and teaching. The website also contains more back ground information on the course including the archives of materials and presentations dating back to 2002. These can be accessed at http://www.who.int/entity/medicines/technical_briefing/tbs/programmenov09/en/index.html .

Sessions are led by senior staff members of the Department of Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies, frequently with involvement of senior staff from the various WHO regions, from our UN partner organizations such as UNICEF, and of academics from our WHO Collaborating Centres.

Participation at Technical Briefing Seminars is free of charge. Participants will however be responsible for their own travel, board and lodging.

Please note that every year we receive more applications than places available on the relevant seminars. This has meant that a rigorous selection procedure is in place.

Application forms can be accessed from the website at http://www.who.int/entity/medicines/technical_briefing/formulaire/en/index.html. The deadline for submitting your application is 20 September 2010. However for applicants from countries for which Schengen visas are required we strongly recommend applying before the deadline.

Richard Laing

Richard Laing (Coordinator)
Medicine Information and Evidence for Policy,
Department of Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies
World Health Organization
CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
Tel 41 22 791 4533
Fax 41 22791 4167
E-mail laingr@who.int

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E-DRUG: New Book about the Impact of the RDF on accessibility of medicines
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Dear E-druggers,

Little is known regarding the accessibility to essential medicines and their impact on public health facilities utilization in areas where the RDFs (revolving drug fund) have been or are being implemented. This book reported the effects of the Cost-Sharing Policy on the utilization of public health facilities with more focus on the experience of Revolving Drug Fund (RDF)-Khartoum State. It clearly explains how the RDF has managed to achieve its establishment objectives. It also highlights the main factors that make the RDF survives for more than fifteen years. The improved accessibility to medicines was clearly reflected in the steady increase in the utilization of the RDF health facilities by different socio-economic groups, particularly the poor population and other vulnerable groups (such as mothers and children) in both urban and rural areas in Khartoum State.

The book demonstrates how security for the endangered structure of RDF can be established and presents reasons for its success, and its achievements and pitfalls. The medicines’ quality measures applied by RDF KS will also add to the existent Cost-Sharing literature.

Overall, the discussion of published work about RDFs highlights the need for a careful study of long, large-scale experience of the implementation of the RDF as a medicine financing mechanism in the public sector. This book’s primary contribution lies in its comprehensive evaluation of a unique, long lasting RDF project that was established on sound business principles. The book also highlights some approaches that might strengthen future replication of the RDF in other countries. Although it is specific to Khartoum State, it has important messages for policy-makers and planners, donors and NGOs, and other stakeholders in relation to ongoing policy changes in health sector, in general, and in the financing of medicines, in particular, in developing countries, especially in Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.

[Where can the book be obtained? Moderator]

Yours sincerely

Gamal Khalafalla Mohamed Ali PhD, MSc, PG Dip. (Health Econ.), B.Pharm (Hon)
Mobile +249912318615
National Medicines and Poisons Board
Secretary General
e-mail: gamalkh@nmpb.gov.sd

P.O. Box 11995
Khartoum
Sudan