[e-drug] Sachs' unfashionable Rx for third world aid (5)

["Bonface Fundafunda" <bcfunda@hotmail.com>]

E-DRUG: Sachs' unfashionable Rx for third world aid (5)
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Dear all,

   I  would  concur  with  Paul Lobb's comments on user fees. From my own
   experience    of    working   on   a   revolving   dug   fund,   these
   programmes require long-  term  commitment from all stakeholders (seed
   funding,    project    institution,    the   community).   They   also
   require narrowing focus,  by only  charging  for one area, such as the
   prescription.  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  have  worked  on such  a
   programme  that  had  received  over 15 years of support from a donor,
   providing  technical  and  administrative  support,  then transferring
   funding    support from    top-    up   of   funds to facilitating   a
   a currency swap  mechanism. Even  after hand-over, the donor was still
   providing  occassional support through its country office. At the time
   I  worked  on  the  programme,  there was visible political commitment
   (going  as far as Parliament), and strong support from the communities
   and the public health services.

   That  sort of commitment from donors is certainly costly (in more ways
   than  one!)  to  the  donor, but clearly necessary if success is to be
   achieved.

   However,  such  programme  need  to  ensure  that full services remain
   available  to  the  poor and those that are unable to pay, and to that
   end,  various  approaches  have been tried on many programmes that are
   published.

   Regards,

   Bonnie
   Bonface Fundafunda PhD, MBA, B.Pharm(Hon)
   Hartmannsvej 16,
   Kgs.Lyngby
   2800 Denmark

bcfunda@hotmail.com