Dear David,
I fully support your ideas on drug information for developing countries.
My own attempt at the "iceberg" has been to develop a database of
pharmaceuticals registered in South Africa, which may well address the
needs of a number of southern African countries. It includes both trade
and generic names of products and their ATC classification among other
data. At present it comprises some 8000 products. A user-friendly
lookup has been programmed so that similar or identical poly-component
preparations may also be retrieved. I should like to find a way of
sharing this information while at the same time ensuring integrety of
the data.
An Internet site which I have established carries Package Inserts (data
sheets) of a wide range of South African products, representing over 55
companies. At present I am attempting to get support from other
pharmaceutical manufacturers in order to have the data as comprehensive
as possible.
A major problem is to find a way of making the data available to
computer users who do not have Internet access, another to find funding
to maintain the site to ensure that it is kept current.
It has been my experience that, if approached, many pharmaceutical
manufacturers are very willing to provide information (not promotional
material) on request. Maybe a directory of manufacturers should be a
first step.
Marland Holderness
Internet site for Package Inserts: http://home.intekom.com/pharm/
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