[e-drug] New online resource - reproductive health

["Ingrid Young" <I.Young@ids.ac.uk>]

E-DRUG: New online resource - reproductive health
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Below is an announcement for a new online key issues guide on market
development approaches to reproductive health, from the Health Systems
Resource Guide (www.eldis.org/healthsystems).  I hope this will be of
interest to you since it focuses on the use of market-based approaches
to improve access to essential drugs, as well as other (non-drug)
commodities.

Please pass this information on to colleagues and other contacts as you
see fit.

If you have any queries about the guide please do not hesitate to
contact me.

Many thanks
Ingrid Young

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Ingrid Young
IDS Health and Development Information team

email: i.young@ids.ac.uk
tel: 01273 877 540/0113 247 0474
http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/info/health.html 

New key issues guide on Market Development Approaches
Market development approaches (MDAs) to reproductive health are
initiatives that work towards enhanced financial sustainability,
improved access and expanded choice. The term "market development
approach" encompasses a very broad set of approaches to health care
delivery, but by definition involves the commercial sector or commercial
sector techniques. A number of factors are changing the current
reproductive health supplies environment and increasing interest in
MDAs.  These include decreasing or uncertain funding, expanding global
markets and the demand for more cost-effective supplies. MDAs can
respond to these circumstances by addressing sustainability, access and
choice through greater involvement of the commercial sector.

The Health Systems Resource guide has produced a new key issues guide on
MDAs, which addresses a number of key questions. 
* What different models of social marketing exist? 
* Are private sector programs more sustainable? 
* How can the impact of a public-private partnership with the
pharmaceutical industry be measured? 
* How are different groups tapping into the private sector without
sacrificing their public health goals and is it possible?

This new key issues guide is a tool for donors, governments and
implementers to learn about MDAs for reproductive health and begin
thinking of options and issues to encourage, design, implement, manage
and evaluate MDAs. Content includes MDA tools, examples of MDAs and
country case studies. The guide was produced for the Reproductive Health
Supplies Coalition <http://www.rhsupplies.org/coalition.shtml>  with
support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
<http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default.htm> .

See the guide at: http://www.eldis.org/healthsystems/mda/