Universal Access and Rational Therapy- A Dissemination Workshop of Tracing Pharmaceutical in South Asia (TPSA) Project
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April 8-9, 2009, New Delhi
CHSJ organised a two day workshop on ‘Universal Access and Rational Therapy- A Dissemination Workshop of Tracing Pharmaceutical in South Asia (TPSA) Project in collaboration with CENTAD, AIDAN and University of Edinburgh on the 8th and 9th of April at India International Centre Annexe, New Delhi. The workshop served to share not just the findings of the study that CHSJ, in partnership with researchers from the University of Edinburgh has undertaken on ‘Tracing the Use of Pharmaceuticals in South Asia, ’ since the year 2006, but also provided a platform where stakeholders from varied backgrounds such as donors and international organizations, government and regulatory body representatives, civil society organizations and networks, activists and academicians could come together and share crucial insights and perspectives on the issues of universal access and rational therapy of drugs. |
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The first day began with a welcome address by Dr. Abhijit Das from CHSJ, followed by an introduction to the TPSA project by Prof. Roger Jeffery from the University of Edinburgh. The project has focused on three drugs, namely, oxytocin, rifampicin and fluoxetine. These drugs have a significant relationship to poverty, play important roles in key health areas and have broad implications for the MDGs. The session on ‘Oxytocin Use in the Context of Maternal and Child Health’ with speakers such as Prof. Patricia Jeffery from the University of Edinburgh and Dr. Sharad D. Iyengar from ARTH, Rajasthan brought to light the fact that an indiscriminate and unmonitored use of oxytocin is increasingly becoming a cause for maternal deaths and complications at the time of child birth. This has implications not just for the health of the mother and the child but also social and economic consequences. It is the woman who is often held responsible when a child is born still or is born with a disability. It was pointed out that the key policy dilemma today is how to balance the risk of oxytocin with the benefits of the drug. Dr. Saroj Pachauri from the Population Council drew attention to the fact that it is imperative for policy makers to interact with people who work at the ground level. The session on Mental Illness and Rational Therapy, with speakers such as Prof. Allyson Pollock and Dr. Stefan Ecks from University of Edinburgh and. Dr. K.S. Jacob from Christian Medical College, Vellore brought to light the fact that the problem with the drugs used to cure depression, especially with fluoxetine, is its sheer proliferation and its misuse. In recent times, a drug like fluoxetine which may be available without prescription even with a village pharmacist, is being used for problems which may not even be related to depression. It was also pointed out that not all kinds of depression is a disease. The session on ‘Rifampicin in the Context of Treatment and Control of TB’ with speakers as Dr. Ian Harper from the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Anurag Bhargava from Jan Swasthya Sahayog and Dr. Sunil Kaul from the ANT discussed the various perceptions related to the RNTCP vis-a vis private health care for tuberculosis. The general conclusion was that the DOTS programme must become more flexible and patient- friendly so that problems of access to TB treatment and anti TB drugs can be tackled and increasing incidence of MDR TB can be avoided.
The second day had as its theme, ‘Rational Therapy and Universal Access’. Dr. Zafarullah Chowdhury from Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Bangladesh who delivered the keynote address pointed out that there is increased emphasis on the ‘medicalisation’ of health care. As long as profit remains the driving force, universal access will be a problem. The discussion on IPR issues pointed out that patents can be a serious threat to access of medicines and that different stakeholders need to come together to raise their voices against patents. The session on regulations pointed towards a need for a greater regulation in the field of clinical trials, use and pricing of drugs. It was pointed out the government should play a role not just in regulation but also in providing support. There was also a discussion on the various means of promotional practices used by pharma companies and the implications it has for the cost and rational use of medicines. Related to the issue of cost and access to drugs was the issue of production of drugs. It was pointed out that most drugs in India are supplied by the Small Scale Industries (SSIs) but the quality parameters pushed by the government are increasingly being seen as a threat to the SSIs.
At the end of the two-day workshop there was a consensus among all the participants that there is a need for all stake holders to converge in order to advocate and influence policy decisions on universal access and rational therapy in India.
Presentations
Irrational medicine promotion practices: Amitava Guha
Labour Management -Oxytocin in the context of the Millennium Development Goals: Patricia Jeffery
Global Burden of Disease measures for depression - time for a rethink: Allyson Pollock
New Threats to Access to Medicines: Santhosh M.R.
Impact of Schedule M (GMP) on Small Scale Pharma in India: Jagdeep Singh
Findings of a study on drug promotion: Dr. Suchitra Ramkumar
Pharma Pricing Need for Better Regulation: S. Srinivasan
National (non-) regulation in a global pharmaceutical world: Roger Jeffery
IPR and Access- Role of CSOs: Leena Menghaney
Rational Therapeutics and Public Health- Issues and Challenges: Anant Phadke
Public Procurement of drugs in India: Sakthivel Selvaraj
Rational Use of Drugs - Biological and Genetics Basis: Harish Padh
Four years of product patent regime-A stock taking: K M Gopakumar
Control of Tuberculosis and Drug Resistant Tuberculosis in India: Anurag Bhargava
Trials and evidence in relation to health policy The case of tuberculosis in Nepal and India: Ian Harper
Depression, fluoxetine and rational medication policies for India: K.S. Jacob
Tracing Pharmaceuticals in South Asia- Overview of the Project: Roger Jeffery
Papers
Labour Management- Oxytocin in the context of the Millennium Development Goals: Patricia Jeffery
Global Burden of Disease measures for depression - time for a rethink: Allyson Pollock
Prozac on the loose- Rethinking the treatment gap for depression in South Asia: Stefan Ecks
Rifampicin in the Context of Treatment & Control of TB: Sunil Kaul
Findings of a study on drug promotion: Suchitra Ramkumar
Irrational Medicine Promotion Practices: Amitava Guha
Oxytocin Use in the Context of Perinatal Health and Survival: Sharad D. Iyengar
Access to vaccines governance, regulations and policy: Dr. Madhavi Yennapu
Regulation of Clinical Trials: Sandhya Srinivasan
The second day had as its theme, ‘Rational Therapy and Universal Access’. Dr. Zafarullah Chowdhury from Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Bangladesh who delivered the keynote address pointed out that there is increased emphasis on the ‘medicalisation’ of health care. As long as profit remains the driving force, universal access will be a problem. The discussion on IPR issues pointed out that patents can be a serious threat to access of medicines and that different stakeholders need to come together to raise their voices against patents. The session on regulations pointed towards a need for a greater regulation in the field of clinical trials, use and pricing of drugs. It was pointed out the government should play a role not just in regulation but also in providing support. There was also a discussion on the various means of promotional practices used by pharma companies and the implications it has for the cost and rational use of medicines. Related to the issue of cost and access to drugs was the issue of production of drugs. It was pointed out that most drugs in India are supplied by the Small Scale Industries (SSIs) but the quality parameters pushed by the government are increasingly being seen as a threat to the SSIs.
At the end of the two-day workshop there was a consensus among all the participants that there is a need for all stake holders to converge in order to advocate and influence policy decisions on universal access and rational therapy in India.
Presentations
Irrational medicine promotion practices: Amitava Guha
Labour Management -Oxytocin in the context of the Millennium Development Goals: Patricia Jeffery
Global Burden of Disease measures for depression - time for a rethink: Allyson Pollock
New Threats to Access to Medicines: Santhosh M.R.
Impact of Schedule M (GMP) on Small Scale Pharma in India: Jagdeep Singh
Findings of a study on drug promotion: Dr. Suchitra Ramkumar
Pharma Pricing Need for Better Regulation: S. Srinivasan
National (non-) regulation in a global pharmaceutical world: Roger Jeffery
IPR and Access- Role of CSOs: Leena Menghaney
Rational Therapeutics and Public Health- Issues and Challenges: Anant Phadke
Public Procurement of drugs in India: Sakthivel Selvaraj
Rational Use of Drugs - Biological and Genetics Basis: Harish Padh
Four years of product patent regime-A stock taking: K M Gopakumar
Control of Tuberculosis and Drug Resistant Tuberculosis in India: Anurag Bhargava
Trials and evidence in relation to health policy The case of tuberculosis in Nepal and India: Ian Harper
Depression, fluoxetine and rational medication policies for India: K.S. Jacob
Tracing Pharmaceuticals in South Asia- Overview of the Project: Roger Jeffery
Papers
Labour Management- Oxytocin in the context of the Millennium Development Goals: Patricia Jeffery
Global Burden of Disease measures for depression - time for a rethink: Allyson Pollock
Prozac on the loose- Rethinking the treatment gap for depression in South Asia: Stefan Ecks
Rifampicin in the Context of Treatment & Control of TB: Sunil Kaul
Findings of a study on drug promotion: Suchitra Ramkumar
Irrational Medicine Promotion Practices: Amitava Guha
Oxytocin Use in the Context of Perinatal Health and Survival: Sharad D. Iyengar
Access to vaccines governance, regulations and policy: Dr. Madhavi Yennapu
Regulation of Clinical Trials: Sandhya Srinivasan
