Making Medicines Affordable

Availability and easy accessibility to quality medicines for the population is an important component in the health care services of any country. If the primary health system is not able to provide medicines at all times, then that system will fail and people will not use it. Though pre-judged as primarily a Third World issue, the cost of medicine is a matter of global concern. The World Health Organisation has been at the forefront of introducing and implementing schemes involving the concept of essential medicines and their supply. This book describes and discusses those schemes. "Making Medicines Affordable" is a small but essential reference work of international interest to drugs companies, policy makers, and all those involved in or simply concerned with the cost of maintaining the health of the world's population. AS REVIEWED IN BULLETIN OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION MAY 2006 by Nuria Homedes (University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center, School of Public Health) "This book represents a very comprehensive review of worldwide pharmaceutical programmes that have implemented WHO recommendations. The case studies that it presents focus mainly on drug procurement strategies, while recognizing that ensuring the availability and affordability of drugs is only one aspect of rational drug use. Starting with analysis of the Bamako Initiatives and ending with a scrutiny of the Trade-Related Aspects of International Property Rights (TRIPS) Safeguards, the book draws lessons that are useful to a broad range of policy-makers and administrators ranging from managers of health centres to global trade negotiators and public-private partnerships. I was impressed by the clarity and the balanced description of the case studies. The tone of the book is generally positive but it does not fail to point out the shortcomings of the interventions and how to address these to improve the appropriate use of available medicines. In summary, Making Medicines Affordable is a solid, comprehensive, and well researched compilation of world-wide experiences that have increased access to pharmaceuticals. It is didactic, easy to read, and offers committed managers a range of options that have proven feasible and useful. This book will be very useful for health and pharmaceutical managers, policy-makers, students and academics alike."