[e-drug] Inappropriate donations to Aceh (2)

[psmint@iinet.net.au]

E-DRUG: Inappropriate donations to Aceh (2)
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Dear E-Drug recipients. Guidelines for Donations sounds perfectly reasonable 
and may be helpful to the majority of humanitarian groups who are dedicated to 
health care ethics and seriously take the time to find out how to be helpful 
following natural or man made tragedies. However, my first hand experience of 
the situation in Aceh over the last 5 months leads me to believe something far 
stronger than guidelines is required, to stem the flow of inappropriate drug 
and medical supplies that follow on from tragedies. 

We have had WHO guidelines for a long time but some groups choose to ignore the guidelines and the lessons learnt from past responses to tragic situations.  Whilst one understands recipient governments wanting to be receptive to humanitarian assistance, more 
research data is required to demonstrate the true costs of inappropriate medical supply donations on recipient governments and hence help these governments to make informed judgements about what can be received and what should possibly be rejected. The increased resources in sorting, inventory, storage, and then disposal of inappropriate supplies can easily run into greater costs than associated with procurement of medical supplies actually 
needed to respond appropriately to tragedies. 

There was no shortage of medical supplies in Indonesia following the tragic earthquake and subsequent Tsunami that could if required could have been reassigned from other areas or purchased in country to overcome shortages in any particular areas. Cash donations are of course very welcome to faciliate quick response to assist needy people. 

I suggest something as strong as a UN resolution against inappropriate medical 
supply dumping may be required to curb practices that not only have negative economic implications (especially on local businesses) but may have even more negative health related outcomes especially if irrational drug use leads to even more drug resistance, morbidity or worse.

Dr Phillip Passmore 
Director 
Pharmaceutical Services Management International Pty Ltd
PO Box 392
Como 6152
Western Australia
psmint@iinet.net.au