Access to medicines
Document Summary: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) were previously considered to only affect high-income countries. However, they now account for a very large burden in terms of both mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), although little is known about the impact these diseases have on households in these countries. This paper presents a literature… Read more
The current conflict in Syria has been raging since March 2011. For the last two years, not a day has passed without the violence featuring on Western news bulletins. A quick scan of the headlines today (17.07.2013) reveals that the UN believes that 5,000 people are dying each month and that the refugee situation is… Read more
There have been many academic studies and analyses of malaria interventions and their cost effectiveness. Unfortunately however, as the studies have varying methodologies and countries of focus, they are difficult to compare. The information in this report outlines cost effectiveness data and conclusions. One article did a comparison of various trials which led the authors… Read more
A proposal on how the Centre for Progressive Health Financing can help improve the delivery of pro-poor health services in Liberia The provision of quality and accessible health services to improve the country’s health status is a stated priority of the Government of Liberia. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH) has made considerable… Read more
This review looks at articles relating to malaria and nutrition. These addressed different stages of the lifecycle, both vivax and falciparum malaria, and varying nutritional interventions. Of these, the 5-10 most-cited trials and reviews relating to each of general undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency, vitamin A, or zinc were selected for review and the ten most relevant… Read more
In the shorter term, there are two options for administration of a World Bank-hosted multi-donor trust fund (MDTF) for the Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA): A recipient-executed MDTF, hosted in the Bank’s Health Anchor (HDNHE) for the bulk of funds, with a small “child trust fund” executed by the World to cover its costs of promoting… Read more
The Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA) was created in recognition of the key importance of access to medicines. These documents report on: Establishing a framework for MeTA in pilot countries; gaining government commitment and establishing sectoral and national committees. Delivering against the MeTA objectives in countries; progress towards data identification, disclosure, changes in practice and logframe… Read more
HRC Report: This paper focuses on the complementary roles of Product Development Partnerships and Advanced Market Commitments as mechanisms to incentivise industry towards the development of health technologies for neglected diseases in developing countries.
HRC REPORT: This update of the 2004 DFID study explains recent alignments between TRIPS and domestic laws in India and China and the practical implications for access to raw material and finished product supply of important medicines like tenofovir for AIDS and artemisinin combination therapies for malaria.
HSRC REPORT: This paper considers the short and longer term options for aligning supply and demand of artemisin-based combination therapy (ACT) for Malaria. This is set on a background of increasing pressure for countries to change their anti-malaria drug policy to ACT (Artemisin-based Combination Therapies), by the World Health Organisation. However, despite the fact that… Read more
HRC REPORT: This report reviews MMV’s(Medicine for Malaria Ventures) mission, governance structures, management and operations, factors contributing to its successes to date and challenges for the future. It also analyses the different public-private partnerships formed by MMV, looking at the benefits of partnerships between ‘academia, industry and the public sector’.