Pharmaceutical Policy Consulting

Mori and Robberstad paper on pharmacoeconomics in Tanzania

joao.carapinha — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:40:30 +0000

Amani Thomas Mori and Bjarne Robberstad’s paper on pharmacoeconomics in Tanzania is a great contribution.

In part, it addresses a generally held hypothesis that pharmacoeconomic studies are impossible in Tanzania and comparable countries because no data is available with which to conduct such analyses. Mori et al clearly demonstrate that researchers have overcome [...]

New information on the thalidomide case of the 1960s

joao.carapinha — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:44:18 +0000

Below is new information on how Grunenthal (in Germany) knew of thalidomide’s harmful effects on foetuses before the medicine was ban in 1961. This evidence dismantles the long-held belief that birth defects were an “unforeseeable tragedy” and that Grunenthal’s ”actions were consistent with the state of scientific knowledge and prevailing standards of the 1950s”. As [...]

Gender and Medicines Use Among Adults with Chronic Illnesses in South Africa: A Human Rights Perspective

joao.carapinha — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:12:11 +0000

Abstract of the PhD dissertation defended by João Carapinha on July 18, 2012.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms an individual’s right to health and essential medicines are a crucial element in improving health. Part of South Africa’s extensive legislative framework promotes medicines access and use, and since the first democratic elections in 1994, key [...]

Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water

joao.carapinha — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:47:20 +0000

WHO Publication: “Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water” “In the last decade, traces of pharmaceuticals, typically at levels in the nanograms to low micrograms per litre range, have been reported in the water cycle, including surface waters, wastewater, groundwater and, to a lesser extent, drinking-water. Advances in analytical technology have been a key factor driving their increased [...]

Moving the Agenda of the Social Determinants of Health towards Rio+20

joao.carapinha — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 15:51:50 +0000

Online Seminar

Wednesday June 6th 2012

Time: 12:00 am – 1:30 pm – EDT ( Washington, DC USA)

“….In this seminar Sir/Professor Michael Marmot, Director of the Institute ofHealth Equity and MRC Research Professor in Epidemiology, University College London (UCL) and former Chair of the Commission on the Social Determinants of Health will present his work on the social determinants [...]

US FDA may impose huge drug user fee on generic imports soon, India to hit badly

joao.carapinha — Tue, 29 May 2012 15:50:35 +0000

Below follows news of measures by the US Congress to levy considerable fees on the importation of generic medicines. The proposed Act will most likely lead to reduced generic medicine competition resulting in artificially high generic medicine prices. However, if the US FDA improves its medicine approval times, the fees contemplated in the Act may [...]

South African Professionals Considering Emigrating

joao.carapinha — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:40:08 +0000

Results from a recent survey by the Professional Provident Society of South Africa, (www.pps.co.za) reports that South African professionals are considering emigrating. The survey focused on specific occupations – chartered accountants, engineers, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, attorneys, advocates and other graduate professionals. Graduates are concerned about crime, healthcare and education as reasons for emigrating. Some of the [...]

Mahatma Gandhi, was he a racist?

joao.carapinha — Mon, 28 May 2012 20:28:32 +0000

Much of what we know from history about Gandhi relates to his practice of Satyagraha as a method to passively liberate India from the clutches of British imperialism. Little is known about his 20 year history of living in South Africa. That is until an extensive research in this area was published by [...]

A Cross-Country Study of Health and Well-Being of the Older Populations in SAGE Countries

joao.carapinha — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:17:37 +0000

“The world’s population is aging, primarily as a function of declining fertility, coupled with increasing life expectancy. Aging is occurring not only in high-income countries but in middle- and low-income countries as well. Moreover, the speed of aging in middle- and low-income countries will outpace that of the high-income countries (Kinsella and He, 2009). Although [...]

Health Policy and Systems Research in the field of Access to Medicines in low- and middle-income countries.

joao.carapinha — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:04:46 +0000

Call for Expressions of Interest

“This call aims to explore the connections between medicines and three other functions of health systems: health financing, governance and health information. ”

Priority-research questions include the following:
- In risk protection schemes, which innovations and policies improve equitable access to and appropriate use of quality medicines, sustainability [...]