E-drug: WHO and training (cont)
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If indeed such ample resources exist, as I know they do, and as has been
quite well exemplified, perhaps we should be reflecting more on barriers to
access rather than availability. One thing is clear to me and that is that
"consumers" of such materials will have to make at least one pro-active
move. It is unreasonable to expect WHO to be responsible for all the steps,
obviously.
I do however have an uncomplimentary experience which I feel obliged to
narrate as part of the reflection I propose. When I worked for UNICEF in
the Bangladesh country office, we used the opportunity of an extensive
local procurement of pharmaceuticals to promote GMP. A company had to
"pass" our independently-sponsoured GMP audit to be on our list of
pre-qualified suppliers. We promoted this by also working with the local
WHO office to provide training to Industry as well as National Drug
Authority personnel. It was quite an expensive activity for UNICEF but was
felt to be a sensible investment in a country like Bangladesh which has
significant restrictions on importation of pharmaceuticals. We used some
material from an excellent CD-ROM on GMP WHO has produced. Local
pharmaceutical manufacturing companies were largely unaware of this
valuable resource but when we tried to get a few copies for donation to the
Industry Association, it became bogged down in the protocol of whether it
should be obtained form the Regional Office or HQ in Geneva. We eventually
gave up!
Murtada M Sesay
Technical Officer (Pharmaceuticals)
Supply Division
UNICEF Plads, Freeport
DK-2100
Copenhagen
Denmark
Tel.: +45 35 27 30 98
Fax: +45 35 26 94 21
msesay@unicef.org
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