[e-drug] WHO Technical Briefing Seminar 2008

["Laing, Richard" <laingr@who.int>]

E-DRUG: WHO/UNICEF Technical Briefing Seminar 2008
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[To respond DO NOT CLICK REPLY.  See  http://healthtech.who.int/tbs/applicationform.doc and send to:
Mrs. A Wilberforce, WHO/PSM/PAR, 1211 Geneva, fax 41-22-7914167, or e-mail wilberforcea@who.int ]

Hi E-Druggers,
I am happy to post the announcement for the annual Technical Briefing Seminar held in WHO. The seminar is always oversubscribed so please get your application in on time. Please note that this is different from the Technical Briefing Seminar:QA and Safety, Blood Products, Biologicals <msg00027.php>  that will be held 22nd to 26th September 2008 that Shanthi Pal posted information about last month.
I hope that I will see some E-Druggers at the next TBS!
Richard Laing

 WHO/UNICEF Technical Briefing Seminar 2008
Geneva, 17th November to 21st November 2008
 
Please find below the announcement of a one-week Technical Briefing Seminar which will be organized jointly by the Department of Medicines Policy and Standards (PSM)  and the Department of Technical Cooperation for Essential Drugs and Traditional Medicine (TCM) of WHO in Geneva later this year. Similar briefing seminars have been held annually since 1998.  The web site for the announcement and links to previous seminars is at http://healthtech.who.int/tbs/.

The programme, as previously, will include updates on counterfeits, the UN pre-qualification project, updates of the 2008 Meeting of WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations and the 2007 Meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines, rational use of medicines, and the implications of international trade agreements. A more specific agenda will be made available shortly.

This year's seminar will be facilitated by Dr Helene Moller and by Dr Richard Laing, WHO/PSM, with input from country programme officers and advisers. 

Participation at the seminar is free of charge but participants will have to arrange for and finance their own travel, board and lodging.

Requests for application forms can be downloaded from
http://healthtech.who.int/tbs/applicationform.doc and sent to:
Mrs. A Wilberforce, WHO/PSM/PAR, 1211 Geneva, fax 41-22-7914167, or e-mail wilberforcea@who.int 

Further details are below.

H.V. Hogerzeil
Director, Department of Medicines Policy and Standards and 
Director (acting) Department of Technical Cooperation for Essential Drugs and Traditional
Medicine
World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27 
Tel: 41.22.791.3528, Fax: 41.22.791.4730 
Tel: 41.22.791.1458, Fax: 41.22.791.4167
___________________________________________________________________

WHO/UNICEF
Technical Briefing Seminar 
on Essential Medicines Policies
Location: WHO/Headquarters, Geneva
Dates: 17-21 November 2008
A one-week Technical Briefing Seminar will be organized
by the Department of Medicines Policy and Standards (PSM) 
and
the Department of Technical Cooperation for Essential Drugs and Traditional Medicine (TCM)
in collaboration with UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen
Similar briefing seminars have been held annually since 1998. 
Target audience 
Priority is given to the following categories: technical advisers and field staff of WHO, and of other UN and bilateral agencies, governmental and nongovernmental organizations, active in pharmaceutical and health sector reform programmes in developing and transitional countries and medicines experts working in the public sector, academic institutions, consulting and civil society organizations. 
Seminar objectives 
By the end of the programme participants will: 
1.	have a general understanding of the most common problems in the pharmaceutical sector in developing and transitional countries; and will have shared experiences in addressing these challenges;
2.	have a general understanding of how WHO and the UNICEF Supply Division support developing and transitional countries in strengthening the pharmaceutical sector; 
3.	appreciate the importance of National Drug Policies as the best approach to make essential medicines of good quality available to all who need them, and ensure the rational use of medicines; 
4.	be aware of ways to strengthen collaboration with WHO and other organizations supporting the pharmaceutical sector in developing and transitional countries; 
5.	understand the impact of international agreements on pharmaceuticals;
6.	be aware of current issues such as pharmacovigilance, pricing issues, traditional medicines and counterfeit medicines. 

Seminar outline 
Sessions will be devoted to developing National Drug Policies, selection of essential medicines, access to essential drugs including affordability and financing, the impact of globalization and trade agreements, drug regulation and quality assurance, drug procurement and supply systems, pharmacovigilance and drug safety, promoting rational medicine use, and coordination between international agencies. The programme includes updates on the Global Fund, the UN pre-qualification project, the 2007 Meeting of the Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines, the implications of international trade agreements, rational use of medicines and Essential Medicines-related information resources. 

Presenters and facilitators 
Sessions will be led by senior staff members of the Department of Medicines Policy and Standards and the Department of Technical Cooperation for Essential Drugs and Traditional Medicines, and there will be a session by staff of UNICEF. One afternoon is available for individual appointments with WHO staff. 

The seminar will be facilitated by senior staff from WHO/PSM, WHO/QSM/QSD and WHO/TCM. 

Applications and further information 
Participation at the Technical Briefing Seminar is free of charge. Participants will be responsible for their own travel, board and lodging. 
The closing date for submission of applications is 19 September 2008.

Please note that every year we receive more applications than places available on the seminar. This has meant that a rigorous selection procedure is in place. 

Requests for more information and completed application forms <applicationform.doc>  should be sent to: 
Mrs. Ann Wilberforce
World Health Organization
WHO/PSM/PAR
Geneva 1211
Switzerland 
Fax 41-22-7914167
E-mail wilberforcea@who.int


Richard Laing (Medical Officer) 
Policy, Access and Rational Use,  
Medicine Policy and Standards,
World Health Organization 
CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland 
Tel 41 22 791 4533 
Fax 41 22791 4167 
E-mail laingr@who.int