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Containing antimicrobial resistance

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
April 2005

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The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a natural phenomenon that follows use of antimicrobial drugs but it is being accelerated by inappropriate antimicrobial use. This leaflet considers various methods that can be used to help contain antimicrobial resistance

Equitable access to essential medicines : a framework for collective action

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
March 2004

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Equitable and universal access to essential medicines is a vital aspect of any health strategy in resource-limited settings. This document provides a framework of action for policy makers, highlighting the key objectives of successful essential drugs programmes: rational selection and use of essential medicines; affordable prices; sustainable financing; reliable supply systems

The world medicines situation

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
2004

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The publication provides an accessible source of information on the pharmaceutical situation at global and national levels. It assembles the available evidence regarding the production and consumption of medicines, and a range of issues in national medicines policies, including the level of people's access, patterns of use, the challenges of medicines regulation and promoting rational use. Numerous different sources of data are used. A 32-page annex of statistics is included. The target readers are researchers, academics and analysts concerned with medicines and public health

The quality of anti-malarials : a study in selected African countries

MAPONGA, Charles
ONDARI, Clive
May 2003

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This was a pilot study to assess the quality of anti-malarials in selected African countries, and to determine whether the quality of these products was related to the level of the distribution chain at which the samples were collected. The data from this study indicate significant problems of substandard anti-malarial products circulating within the drug distribution chains in the African region. It therefore recommends that quality surveillance systems be set up within drug regulatory authorities in the region and that support be given to manufacturers to improve compliance with good manufacturing practices

Guidelines for price discounts of single-source pharmaceuticals

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO). Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy
et al
2003

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These guidelines are designed to maximise the benefit of price discounts arrangements for single-source products. They are intended for policy makers and technical staff in international and bilateral agencies active in international health development support, for pharmaeutical companies and for governments and NGOs in recipient countries. It highlights a number of issues that WHO feels need to be considered when planning or negotiating offers of price discounts

Drug and therapeutics committees : a practical guide

HOLLOWAY, Kathleen
GREEN, Terry
2003

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This guide provides guidance to doctors, pharmacists, hospital managers and other professionals who may be serving on Drug and Therapeutics Committees (DTCs) and/or who are concerned with how to improve the quality and cost efficiency of therapeutic care. It is relevant for all kinds of DTCs - whether in public or private hospitals and whether at district or tertiary referral level. This manual covers a committee's functions and structure, the medicines formulary process, and how to assess new medicines. The chapters on tools to investigate drug use and strategies to promote rational use are followed by a discussion of antimicrobial resistance and infection control. The publication concludes by explaining in detail how to start a committee or improve the effectiveness of an existing one

Guidelines for the storage of essential medicines and other health commodities

DELIVER
2003

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Maintaining proper storage conditions for health commodities is vital to ensuring their quality. Product expiration dates are based on ideal storage conditions and protecting product quality until their expiration date is important for serving customers and conserving resources. Guidelines for the Storage of Essential Medicines and Other Health Commodities is a practical reference for those managing or involved in setting up a storeroom or warehouse. The guide contains written directions and clear illustrations on receiving and arranging commodities; special storage conditions; tracking commodities; maintaining the quality of the products; constructing and designing a medical store; waste management; and resources. It was written to meet the needs of district-level facilities; however, the guidelines and information it contains apply to any storage facility, of any size, in any type of environment

IPR, innovation, human rights and access to drugs : an annotated bibliography

VELASQUEZ, Germán
VIDAL, Jaume
2003

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This annotated bibliography brings together references to scientific, legal and other materials on globalisation, patents and drugs. It is organised into sections on general articles (basic literature on the topic), country studies (by region), thematic sections on TRIPS (the World Trade Organization treaty on patents) and patents, drug research and development, and human rights and access to drugs. Finally a section on electronic information sources highlights useful websites and discussion groups on these issues. Each reference includes full bibliographic information and a thorough, descriptive abstract detailing the key points of each item

How to develop and implement a national drug policy

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
January 2003

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This leaflet outlines the steps to creating a national drugs policy. It sets out the key components, the selection process for essential medicines, affordability, financing options, supply systems, regulation and quality assurance, rational use, human resources development, and monitoring and evaluation

Implications of the Doha Declaration on theTRIPS Agreement and public health

CORREA, Carlos M
June 2002

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The Doha declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health affirmed that the TRIPS Agreement should be interpreted and implemented so as to protect public health and promote access to medicines for all. This paper provides an overview of the Declaration's antecedents, offers a general treatment of its provisions, provides guidance to WTO members in finding solutions to problems it poses, and discusses related issues that are not covered in the Declaration

The selection of essential medicines

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
June 2002

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Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population. This leaflet looks at the policy and relevance of the concept of essential medicines, how they can be selected, and how to implement a national list of essential medicines

WHO model list of essential medicines

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
April 2002

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Guide for the development of national and institutional essential medicines list. Aims to identify cost-effecetive medicines for priority conditions, together with the reasons for their inclusion. The list has two sections. Section one, which is the core list, represents the minimum medicine needs for a basic health care system. Section two, the complementary list, presents essential medicines for priority conditions

Network for monitoring the impact of globalization and TRIPS on access to essential medicines

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO). Department of Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy (EDM)
2002

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This report consists of a collection of documents presented at this meeting, which was held to develop a framework for monitoring the impact that globalisation and TRIPS are having on access to medicines. The framework was needed to answer four questions: how is patenting affecting drug pricing; how are patents and enhanced intellectual property rights affecting the development of generic drugs; are TRIPS and expanded intellectual property rights spurring the development of drugs for neglected diseases; and are the TRIPS and expanded intellectual property protections contributing to an increase or decrease in transfer of technology and foreign direct investment to developing countries

Globalization, patents and drugs : an annotated bibliography

VELASQUEZ, Germán
HANVORAVONGCHAI, Piya
BOULET, Pascale
2001

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This annotated bibliography aims to inform people in the health sector, with no particular legal background, about the impact of globalization and trade agreements on access to drugs, and the growing importance of this issue. It directs the reader to key reports, books and articles from technical and scientific journals, both general references and specific country studies. Details of some useful web sites are also given.

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