The great medicines scandal: Next steps?

doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7557.44-b

BMJ 2006;333:44-45 (1 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7557.44-b

Letter

The great medicines scandal

Next steps?

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—The recent World Health Organization-Health ActionInternational, Europe report on disparities in price, availability,and affordability of medicines for chronic diseases is importantwork.¹ This entire subject matter as it relates to medicinesfor chronic diseases deserves wider appreciation and understanding.

It should not be allowed to be filed away on shelves to gatherdust—which is a rather roundabout way of asking: "Howcan the contents of such a report be leveraged in effectiveways?" I would suggest the following.

Firstly, teach and otherwise disseminate the contents of thisreport to educational institutions with courses in chronic non-communicabledisease, public health, and disease management inside and outsidethe United States.

Secondly, encourage a dialogue between practitioners and theprivate sector at one or more regional or subregional meetingsto discuss further the implications of this report.

Thirdly, create "access to medicines" campaigns based on existingcampaigns for infectious . . . [Full text of this article]

Warren A Kaplan, assistant professor of international health

Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA wak@bu.edu