E-drug: UN report on local pharmaceutical production
-------------------------------------------------------
Dear all
A new report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
entitled "Investment in Pharmaceutical Production in Least Developed
Countries - A Guide for Policymakers and Investment Promotion Agencies"
addresses the issue of the local production of pharmaceuticals in
low-income countries.
http://www.unctad.org/en/docs//diaepcb2011d5_en.pdf
The report sets out some of the factors and policies necessary for
successful implementation of local pharmaceutical production. The focus
is not necessarily from the perspective of increasing access to
essential medicines but rather an overarching view that could be used
for economic or health policy goals. It is noted that local production
does not necessarily equal lower prices and that a functioning local
medicine regulatory authority is required.
The BMJ carries a news story on the report and quotes Zafar Mirza of WHO
who reiterates that for local production to increase access to essential
medicines that here should be an explicit policy link to improvement of
public health if local production is to address medicine access issues.
BMJ 2011;342:d3101
http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d3101
Regards
Douglas Ball
Pharmaceutical consultant
Public Health and Development
E-mail: douglasball[AT]yahoo.co.uk