REPORT OF AFRICA REGIONAL COORDINATION

ISDB General Assembly

Matagalpa, 1/12/2008

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GENERAL CONTEXT IN AFRICA

In the health field, the African continent is particularly characterized by:

A weak number of the health staff Few physicians, therefore most of the time,

the health staff is which who is prescribing the treatments without any adequate training as far as the rational use of the drugs is concerned

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GENERAL CONTEXT IN AFRICA

During the decade (1990-2000) in most African countries, with regards to the implementation of the “Initiative de Bamako”, a particular effort has been done for the supplying in essential generic drugs

The access to drugs was increasing, few activities to support the rational use and promote the information on drugs have been done

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GENERAL CONTEXT IN AFRICA

Few reliable sources of information available for the health staff

The information sources coming from big-pharma are intended to promotional purpose

The need for an independent, reliable, comparative and updated information about the issues of drug in Africa is more than ever a necessity

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OBJECTIVES

The activities undertaken can be essentially centered on 3 objectives :

Sensitize the African authorities to the importance of a quality drug information

Boost an African network of connections for the promotion of a quality drug information

Improve the visibility of the existing African news bulletins

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SENZITIZING WITH DRUG AUTHORITIES

Targeting promotion of the information and the objectives of ISDB via a mailing system

09/07: sending of 25 letters headed ISDB written in english to the authorities in order to sensitize them to the importance of a quality drug information

02/08: 10 electronic mails have been sent to pharmacists and physicians of Benin, Cameroun, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire

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SENZITIZING WITH DRUG AUTHORITIES

02/08, 21 other mails have been sent to dean of University faculties (in french-speaking countries), asking information about their structures and sensitize them to the useful of a quality drug information

On the whole we got few answers to our mails (may be threat of internet jacking or spam) we wonder. But in insisting, we are expecting people adherence

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AFRICAN NETWORK OF CONNECTIONS

03/08 CEDIM hold a speech at Geneva for the responsible of the African pharmaceutical authorities, attending a training on the national pharmaceutical policies

This has been an opportunity to raise an interest for a quality drug information and also promote La Lettre du CEDIM as an example of reliable source of information

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AFRICAN NETWORK OF CONNECTIONS

With the support of Prescrire and as part of ISDB program, CEDIM is working at the creation of sub- regional drug information networks useful to the health staff

Renewal of contact with the bulletin of Eritrea, to ensure if it still published

Renewal of contact with Madagascar’s drug agency

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AFRICAN NETWORK OF CONNECTIONS

Contact with MEDQUAL in Algeria (Small bulletin, non-member of ISDB)

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IMPROVE THE VISIBILITY OF LDC

Regular participation to the french electronic forum of discussion e-med (more than 1600 health professionals in Africa meet for debates and exchanges on drug issues) and publication of our bulletin’s headline at this forum. By proceeding so, La Lettre du CEDIM is enforcing its position as a reliable source of information

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IMPROVE THE VISIBILITY OF LDC

La Lettre du CEDIM is also mailed on the ReMeD and WHO as well as ISDB websites that are visited by many people in Africa

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OTHERS ACTIVITIES

Participation at the Verona meeting in November 2006 to draw up the ISDB activities plan

Since 2005, we take part to the membership approval of news members and participates to many studies on the drugs issued by news bulletins affiliated to ISDB

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

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