[e-drug] Sach's unfashionable Rx for third world aid (3)

["Paul Lobb" <paul.lobb@gmail.com>]

E-DRUG: Sach's unfashionable Rx for third world aid (3)
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Hi E-druggers

Perhaps the value in user fees is not in making the patient value the
treatment but in signalling to the caregivers involved that treatment
actually costs something. A common attitude is that as medicines etc
are "public" property or are "donations" and thus a little leakage or
waste is not hurting anybody. In a similar way at times prescribers
may over prescribe to cover all eventualities because the drugs are
free anyway.

Introduction of a user fee after treatment has been free for a long
period of time is unlikely to be successful initially as it takes time
for attitudes to change. Thus it is very hard to transform an
essentially free service into a revolving fund. In the end I suppose
that it all comes down to long term funding and how committed the
community and the donors are to setting up a sustainable long term
treatment program.

These is just my impression of the way that the world works.

Paul

-- 
Paul Lobb
email paul.lobb@gmail.com
unaffiliated pharmacist