[e-drug] Expanding the WHO Model Essential Medicines List (10)

[e-drug@healthnet.org]

E-DRUG: Expanding the WHO Model Essential Medicines List (10)
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Two messages - from Carolyn Green and Atieno Ojoo

1. Carolyn Green
I'm wondering why proguanil (brand name Paludrine) appears in Benjamin
Krohmal's list of 'patented' non-ARVs in the WHO Model List? This is an
old drug (introduced 1970's?) and patents for single-drug formulations
must surely have expired long ago. 

The fact that proguanil is only available as a branded medicine has, as
far as I know, more to do with the fact that the originator company has
a monopoly on manufacture of the raw material, so generic competition is
not viable. 

Carolyn Green
Senior Technical Advisor, Care & Support
cgreen@aidsalliance.org
"Carolyn Green" <cgreen@aidsalliance.org>


2. Atieno Ojoo

Dear colleagues
In my understanding, the WHO model Essential medicines list is a MODEL list.
It is not prescribed for anyone to utilize it wholesale and where any country feels that they can vary the list, no one stops them from doing so to suit there needs.

Secondly, when it comes to patents, we need to come out clear what we are talking about. Two medicines listed by James Love (Proguanil and Levofloxacin) as patent medicines are for example,
available in Kenya from multiple manufacturers. Where are they under patent?

It would be useful to focus this discussion by listing the medicines that are of interest that are missing from the model list that would qualify for that special listing. This will then make the
discussion more meaningful and fruitful as we can focus on the evidence for their need.

Dr Atieno Ojoo
Chief Pharmacist
Kenyatta National Hospital
Nairobi, Kenya
atisojoo@yahoo.co.uk