[e-drug] WHO/EDM-UNICEF Technical Briefing Seminar September 2005

["Laing, Richard" <laingr@who.int>]

E-DRUG: WHO/EDM-UNICEF Technical Briefing Seminar No 10 
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Geneva, 19 September - 23 September 2005
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Dear all,

Please find below the announcement of a one-week Technical Briefing
Seminar which will be organized jointly by the Department of Medicines
Policy and Standards (PSM) and the Department of Technical Cooperation
for Essential Drugs and Traditional Medicine (TCM) of WHO in Geneva
later this year.  Similar briefing seminars have been held annually
since 1998.  

The programme, as previously, will include updates on the Global Fund,
the UN pre-qualification project, updates of the 2004 Meeting of WHO
Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations and
the 2005 Meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of
Essential Medicines, rational use of medicines, and the implications of
international trade agreements. A more specific agenda will be made
available shortly.

This year's seminar will be facilitated by Dr Richard Laing, WHO/PSM,
and by Dr Zafar Mirza, Regional Adviser for the WHO Eastern
Mediterranean region. 

Participation at the seminar is free of charge but participants will
have to arrange for and finance their own travel, board and lodging.
Requests for application forms can be sent to:

Mrs A Wilberforce, WHO/PSM/PAR, 1211 Geneva, fax 41-22-7914167, or
e-mail wilberforcea@who.int 

Further details are below.

Dr Hans V. Hogerzeil  MD, PhD, FRCP (Edin)
Mrs Malebona Matsoso
Directors

Department of Medicines Policy and Standards
Department of Technical Cooperation for Essential Drugs and Traditional Medicine

World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27 
Tel: 41.22.791.3528, Fax: 41.22.791.4730 
Tel: 41.22.791.1458, Fax: 41.22.791.4167
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WHO-UNICEF Technical Briefing Seminar for international and national
staff active in pharmaceutical support programmes

Organized by: Department of Medicines Policy and Standards and the
Department of Technical Cooperation for Essential Drugs and 
Traditional Medicine, in collaboration with UNICEF Supply Division,
Copenhagen 

Venue: WHO Headquarters, Geneva, Salle G (8th floor)

Dates: 19 September - 23 September 2005

Target audience

Priority is given to the following categories: technical advisers and
field staff of WHO, and of other UN and bilateral agencies, governmental
and non-governmental organizations, active in pharmaceutical and health
sector reform programmes in developing countries and medicines experts
working in the public sector, academic institutions and civil society
organisations. 

Meeting objectives

By the end of the programme participants will: 

1. have a general understanding of the most common problems in the
pharmaceutical sector in developing countries; 

2. have a general understanding of how WHO and the UNICEF Supply
Division support developing countries in strengthening the
pharmaceutical sector;

3. appreciate the importance of National Drug Policies as the best
approach to make essential drugs of good quality available to all who
need them, and ensure the rational use of drugs;

4. be aware of ways to strengthen collaboration with WHO and other
organizations supporting the pharmaceutical sector in developing
countries;

5. understand the impact of international agreements on pharmaceuticals.

Outline of the programme

Sessions will be devoted to developing National Drug Policies, selection
of essential drugs, access to essential drugs including affordability
and financing, the impact of globalisation and trade agreements, drug
regulation and quality assurance, drug procurement and supply systems,
promoting rational drug use, and coordination between international
agencies. The programme includes updates on the Global Fund, the UN
pre-qualification project, the 2005 Meeting of the Expert Committee on
the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines, the implications of
international trade agreements, rational use of medicines and Essential
Medicines-related information resources.

Resource persons

Sessions will be led by senior staff members of the Department of
Medicines Policy and Standards and the Department of Technical
Cooperation for Essential Drugs and Traditional Medicine,  and there
will be a session by staff of UNICEF.  One afternoon is available for
individual appointments with WHO staff.  The seminar will be facilitated
by Dr Richard Laing from WHO/PSM, and Dr Zafar Mirza, Regional Adviser
for WHO Eastern Mediterranean region.

Requests for further information and applications

As in previous years, participation at the Technical Briefing Seminar is
free of charge but participants will be responsible for their own
travel, board and lodging.  Requests for more information and
application forms should be sent to Mrs Ann Wilberforce, World Health
Organization, WHO/PSM/PAR, Geneva 1211, Switzerland, Fax 41-22-7914167,
e-mail wilberforcea@who.int.

Closing date for applications

The closing date for applications is 29 June 2005.

Reports on previous seminars may be found on:
http://www.who.int/medicines/organization/par/briefing/tbs.shtml