E-DRUG: WHO RfP: 'Market analysis and stakeholder survey on access to morphine for medical use'
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Dear E-druggers
The World Health Organization (WHO) has posted a Request for Proposal (RfP) on 'Market analysis and stakeholder survey on access to morphine for medical use' on the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) at https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/134881
The purpose is outlined as follows:
Access to medicines for pain relief is a health, equity and human rights imperative. Several opioid analgesics are included on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, including morphine, codeine, and fentanyl. Morphine especially is indispensable for pain management in clinical contexts. However, access to morphine for medical use is severely limited or non-existent in many countries, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
There is limited data on the availability of morphine products at the health service level. This presents an important gap in our understanding of the extent to which the public health needs relating to adequate pain management are met globally. Furthermore, only very limited data is available on the price of morphine products for medical use, with available information suggesting highly variable prices within and across countries.
There is therefore a need for undertaking a more comprehensive analysis to better understand the current status of access to morphine products for medical use and the existing barriers to access, including the role of the supply chain and market organization. A more holistic view of the main impediments of access to morphine, is crucial to inform and prioritize global and local efforts to reduce current disparities in access to this essential medicine.
The WHO Division of Access to medicines and Health Products (MHP) aims to provide global guidance, and collaborate with, and support countries to improve access to medicines and health products, with a view towards achieving universal health coverage.
Ensuring access to morphine for medical purposes is a high priority for the Organization, as reflected in various resolutions of the World Health Assembly and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs; an indicator on access to oral morphine in facilities at all levels has been also included in the results framework of the 13 General Programme of Work. To this end, MHP is undertaking a study to increase the existing knowledge base and to prioritize actions on improving access to morphine, by answering the following research questions:
* Research question 1: What is the current situation regarding access to morphine for medical use in countries?
* Research question 2: What are the main barriers to access to morphine for medical use from a health system perspective?
* Research question 3: What priority actions should be taken at the global and country levels to improve access to morphine for medical use?
To answer the research questions described above, MHP will carry out a project in two stages:
Stage 1: Gaining an understanding of the current situation in regard to access to morphine products for medical use globally and locally, focusing on morphine's availability and pricing at the health service level, as well as high-level insights into the main barriers and enablers to access. This stage will include a stakeholder survey as well as a market analysis. The findings will be presented in a report.
Stage 2: Based on the initial findings of stage 1, formulating concrete next steps to be taken at the global and country levels to improve the situation, taking into consideration the identified barriers and enablers. This stage will include a consultation to prioritise actions based on context of use and health systems' characteristics.
Please note that Stage 2 is not part of this RFP.
The deadline for submissions is 9 August 2021, and full details are in the RfP posted on the web site. The successful bidder shall be a for profit or not for profit institution operating in the field of pharmaceuticals, controlled medicines or a related field with proven expertise in pharmaceutical market analysis.
For more details, please contact Judith Sprunken, Technical officer, Office of the Assistant-Director General, Access to Medicines and Health Products (MHP), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Email: sprunkenj@who.int
Regards
Andy
Andy Gray BPharm MSc(Pharm) FPS FFIP
Senior Lecturer
Division of Pharmacology
Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences
School of Health Sciences
University of KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa
email: graya1@ukzn.ac.za or andy@gray.za.net