E-DRUG: WHO web-based consultation on improving access to medical supplies for NCDs
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The WHO has published a discussion paper on improving access to essential medicines and basic health technologies for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). See the link below for more information.
http://who.int/nmh/events/ncd-coordination-mechanism-essential-medicines/en/
The goal is to assist Member States in their national efforts to achieve target 9 as outlined in the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020. "An 80% availability of the affordable basic technologies and essential medicines, including generics, required to treat major noncommunicable diseases in both public and private facilities."
A key aspect of NCD prevention and control requires that patients have equitable access to affordable medicines and technologies. Unfortunately, bottlenecks present within and outside health systems have continued to undermine this necessity and contribute to the rising burden of NCDs. Spending on medicines and other health technologies are now noted to put severe strains on health budgets, accounting for more than half of total current health expenditures in some countries.
In order to strengthen efforts to realize the achievement of this target, the Secretariat has developed this discussion paper to engage stakeholders through a consultative process, to help define ways and means to assist Member States in their national efforts to improve equitable access through a set of actions.
The paper describes some of the key bottlenecks Member States face, it presents ideas on how WHO and relevant stakeholders can support Member States to support national efforts and it provides questions to stimulate and elicit feedback in order to give input to WHO work, on how to support Member States to improve access to essential medicines and basic health technologies for NCDs.
You are invited to provide comments by sending an email to ncdactionplan@who.int<mailto:ncdactionplan@who.int> by 31 August 2015. A summary of the feedback obtained through the consultation will be posted on the WHO website at the end of the process.
Thank you.
Dr. Onyema Ajuebor
Consultant
Management of NCDs, Disabilities, Violence and Injury Prevention (NVI)
World Health Organization
Geneva, Switzerland
"AJUEBOR, Onyema" <ajueboro@who.int>