[e-drug] OTC sale of antimalaria drugs in Kenya (cont'd)

[Jerome Reinstein <jreinstein@wsmi.org>]

E-drug: OTC sale of antimalaria drugs in Kenya (cont'd)
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The Members of WSMI are involved with medicines that are
approved for OTC sale. In many countries of the world, all
medicines, including those legally prescription-only, are sold in
pharmacies, markets, and drug stores without a prescription. The
anti-malaria case in Kenya is one serious example of the negative
effects of this.

For the most part, the manufacturers are not directly involved in the
distribution of medicines, although some can do more to prevent
distribution in unauthorised channels. Nevertheless, many of the
medicines are sold through authorised channels, such as
pharmacies, and there it is the pharmaceutical profession which
must act to insist that their own members obey the law in the
interests of better public health. The question of distribution in
street markets and other unauthorised outlets is much more difficult
to police and to stop.

A major effort of WSMI is to help governments to realise that the
lack of control over OTC dispensing of prescription-only medicines
is harmful to their people's health. On the other hand, many
medicines, including some anti-malaria medicines, are legitimately
OTC in many countries. These should not be prohibited, as they
facilitate the use of first-line medicines in many countries where
medical services are not always available and may not be needed
for areas where self-care is appropriate.

Please contact me for additional information, if required.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Jerome Reinstein, Director-General
World Self-Medication Industry (WSMI)
15 Sydney House, Woodstock Road
London  W4 1DP, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8747 8709
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8747 8711
www.wsmi.org
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