[e-drug] Expanding the WHO Model Essential Medicines List (3)

["James Packard Love" <james.love@keionline.org>]

E-DRUG: Expanding the WHO Model Essential Medicines List (3)
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Dear Beverly,

There have been two previous communications to the WHO on this topic,  
including a December 1, 2006 letter to incoming DG Margaret Chan, and  
a March 2, 2007 letter to the WHO Expert Committee on the Selection  
and Use of Essential Medicines, both on the Internet here:

http://www.keionline.org/misc-docs/eml2March2007.pdf

The new WHO model EML list ignored both letters.

The proposal is fairly simple.  Expand the WHO model EML, by  
including a category for products that would be cost effective  
treatments for the poor, "if available at generic prices."

In 2007 it is no longer appropriate to take the patented prices as a  
binding constraint, when countries are showing they are willing to  
issue compulsory licenses to obtain the cheaper generic prices.  The  
list should reflect this reality.  That is the message of the letter  
by Hoos, Bills and Worku.  It is entirely appropriate to send this  
message to the WHA or the WHO EB, since the expert committee is not  
interested or responsive on this topic.

regards

Jamie

James Packard Love
Knowledge Ecology International
http://www.keionline.org
james.love@keionline.org
Washington, DC +1.202.332.2670