[e-drug] Expanding the WHO Model Essential Medicines List (9)

["BONFACE FUNDAFUNDA" <bcfunda@hotmail.com>]

E-DRUG:  Expanding the WHO Model Essential Medicines List (9) 
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Dear Friends,

   The  position  "..if  available  at generic prices" appears to suggest
   that  if such a product is not available at generic price, then it may
   not  be  promoted  to  be  on  the  Model List, etc? Is that a correct
   assessment? As  Kevin  Outterson points out, a number of drugs are out
   of reach of most governments. However, we should not discount the fact
   that  the access to essential commodities environment has changed over
   the  last  few  years, and so has the pharma industry (both patent and
   generic).

    In   the   former,   there's recognition  to  use  the  most
   appropriate therapeutic  product  available, as long the health system
   can  support  or handle those commodities. Further, we now have a much
   more  articulate  civil  society  and general public which demads that
   systems are put in place (both at national and international level) to
   assure access  to  these essential but expensive products. 

   In the case of  pharma  industry,  we should recognise that this industry has also
   changed  and  is  williing  to  listen and negotiate prices that would
   favour  access  by countries that would not afford the market price. I
   give, without going into details, the example of multivalent vaccines,
   and  also  ARVs and ACTs, where prices have been negotiated, resulting
   in  increasingly  affordable  unit  prices  (both  generic  and patent
   products). 

   That  seems  to  be the current environment we are working
   in, whereby the  "usefulness"  of  a  product  is  the primary driver,
   followed  by  commercial  arrangements  that would enable consumers to
   afford product and therefore have long- term access to the same.

   Regards,

   Dr Bonnie Fundafunda
 Drug Supply Budget Line,
Ministry of Health,
 Lusaka,
Zambia
"BONFACE FUNDAFUNDA" <bcfunda@hotmail.com>