E-DRUG: 2 new WHO pubs on antimicrobial resistance and medicines use
--------------------------------------------------------------------
[Cross-posted with thanks from DRUGINFO; WB]
Hi all
The WHO has released two new medicines-related publications, just
before the World Health Assembly meets in Geneva. Both have direct
relevance to medicines use in developing countries.
The first - Community-based surveillance of antimicrobial use and
resistance in resources-constrained settings: report on five pilot
projects, WHO/EMP/MAR/2009.2 - can be accessed at
http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/who_emp_2009.2/en/index.html
Here is the abstract: "Integrated surveillance of antimicrobial
resistance and use at all levels of health care is an essential
component of any programme to contain antimicrobial resistance. There is
currently no standard methodology for conducting community-based
surveillance in resource-constrained settings. This document describes
five pilot surveillance projects that were set up in India (3 sites) and
South Africa (2 sites) with the aim of developing a model for
undertaking integrated community-based surveillance in
resource-constrained settings and generating baseline data. The
methodology used in each area aimed to collect antimicrobial resistance
(AMR) and use data from the same geographical area over time, but was
modified to suit the particular characteristics of each site. Lessons
learned are discussed."
The second - Medicines use in primary care in developing and
transitional countries: Fact book summarizing results from studies
reported between 1990 and 2006, WHO/EMP/MAR/2009.3 - can be accessed at
http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/who_emp_2009.3/en/index.html
Here is the abstract: "Irrational use of medicines is one of the most
serious global public health problems we face today. Improving use
requires regular monitoring and application of effective interventions,
both of which are often not done, particularly in many lower income
countries. To address this issue, WHO created a database of medicines
use in in primary care settings in developing and transitional
countries. Quantitative information has been extracted from 679 studies
conducted in 97 countries and on 386 interventions (from 313 studies).
The medicines use database has allowed the first systematic quantitative
review of studies measuring medicines use in developing and transitional
countries and the results are now presented. How serious a problem is
irrational use of medicines? What interventions are effective?"
For other WHO publications in this field, see
http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/Medicinespubarchive/en/index.html
The contact person for this area of work is:
Dr Kathleen Holloway
Medical Officer for Medicines Access and Rational Use
Department of Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policy
World Health Organisation, 20 Avenue Appia, Genève, CH-1211
Tel: +41 22 791 2336; Fax: +41 22 791 4167
Email: hollowayk@who.int
Although both publications are available as full PDFs, hard copies can
also be ordered from edmdoccentre@who.int
regards
Andy
Andy Gray MSc(Pharm) FPS
* Senior Lecturer
Dept of Therapeutics and Medicines Management
* Consultant Pharmacist
Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research
in South Africa (CAPRISA)
Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine
University of KwaZulu-Natal
PBag 7 Congella 4013
South Africa
Tel: +27-31-2604334/4298 Fax: +27-31-2604338
email: graya1@ukzn.ac.za or andy@gray.za.net