Essential Medicines

2019 ◽  
pp. 94-113
Author(s):  
Catherine Habashy ◽  
Sarah L. Comolli ◽  
Justin N. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Care Access ◽  
Humanitarian Crises ◽  
Dosage Guidelines ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Right

The concept of essential medicines (EM) was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote equitable access to safe, effective, and low-cost medicines. Access to EM is considered part of the right to health and is critical to the provision of palliative care. Access to EM is often disrupted in the setting of humanitarian crises, leading to further physical and psychological suffering. The recently published WHO document, Integrating Palliative Care and Symptom Relief into the Response to Humanitarian Emergencies and Crises, provides guidance on the prioritization and utilization of EM as part of an essential package of care. This chapter draws on the recommendations of the WHO as well as those of other expert committees and multilateral organizations. It provides an overview of commonly used medicines in palliative care and is applicable to the delivery of palliative care in humanitarian crises. It also provides general dosage guidelines.

Essential medicines for palliative care

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana De Lima ◽  
Lukas Radbruch ◽  
Eduardo Bruera
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
International Association ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Access To Medicines ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Hospice And Palliative Care

The essential medicines concept developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), states that there is a list of minimum medicines for a basic health-care system, including the most efficacious, safe, and cost-effective ones for priority conditions. According to the WHO, essential medicines are those that satisfy the primary health-care needs of the population. Thus, they should always be available, affordable, and cost-effective. However, the vast majority of the global population does not have access to essential medicines. Many organizations have called on governments to adopt policies to improve availability of these essential medicines and developed programmes and projects to increase awareness and knowledge. This chapter describes two such projects developed by the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), based on the essential medicines concept to improve access to medicines and appropriate palliative care: the IAHPC List of Essential Medicines in Palliative Care and the Opioid Essential Prescription Package.

Economic Profit vs. Social Benefit

2021 ◽  
pp. 24-44
Author(s):  
M. Mercedes Galán-Ladero ◽  
M. Ángeles Galán-Ladero
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Social Benefit ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Human Right ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Right

There is currently a wide-ranging debate on whether it is ethical for pharmaceutical companies to profit and obtain large economic benefits by patenting and controlling the sale of essential medicines that can save thousands of lives, or, on the contrary, whether these medicines should be considered social products and offered at low prices so that anyone, in any country in the world, regardless of their purchasing power, can have access to them. This debate has intensified since health was considered a fundamental human right by the World Health Organization (WHO) and was expressly included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations (specifically, in Goal 3: “Health and Well-Being”). Consequently, the overall objective of this chapter is to reflect on these questions: Should economic interests prevail over social ones in the case of essential life-saving medicines? Should the fundamental right to health prevail over the right granted by a patent? How far should corporate social responsibility (CSR) go in the pharmaceutical industry?

Palliative care needs assessment tools

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Afaf Girgis ◽  
Amy Waller
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Needs Assessment ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
World Health ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Right

The delivery of appropriate and equitable care is a challenge facing many areas of health care, including palliative care. This chapter discusses the concept of needs assessment, which is inherent in the World Health Organization definition of palliative care, and considers strategies for assessing people’s needs and experiences, with a focus on the tools developed specifically for this purpose (including generic needs assessment tools for patients with any chronic disease, and needs assessment tools for patients with advanced cancer, dementia, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or HIV/AIDS. It reiterates the importance of needs assessment tools being implemented as part of routine care to facilitate the right care being offered to people at the time they most need it, by the people or service which is most appropriate to meet identified needs.

Essential medicines for palliative care

2021 ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
Lukas Radbruch ◽  
Liliana De Lima
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Essential Medicine ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Loved One ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization defines essential medicines as those which satisfy the primary healthcare needs of the population. In 2013, the World Health Organization introduced a new section on medicines for pain and palliative care in the 18th edition of the Model List of Essential Medicine including 15 medicines for the most common symptoms in life-limiting health conditions. More recently, the Lancet Commission on palliative care developed an essential package which also includes equipment and human resources in addition to the essential medicines. The Lancet Commission specified that in order to achieve universal health coverage, coverage of the essential package is recommended by dedicated, pro-poor, public or publicly mandated funding and for all relevant health conditions. However, in many regions of the world, all or some of the essential medicines are not available at all, or if they are available in the country, they are regularly out of stock in the local pharmacy, out-of-pocket costs are so high that patients cannot afford the medicines, or whole families become impoverished buying treatment for their loved one. Problems with accessibility, affordability, and availability are particularly evident with opioid analgesics such as morphine. However, accessibility, affordability, and availability of essential medicines is a pivotal prerequisite for the delivery of quality palliative care.

Human Rights Responsibilities of Pharmaceutical Companies in Relation to Access to Medicines

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joo-Young Lee ◽  
Paul Hunt
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Access To Medicines ◽  
Right To Health ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Access To Essential Medicines ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Right

The Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) affirms that “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being.” The Universal Declaration of Human Rights lays the foundations for the international framework for the right to health. This human right is now codified in numerous national constitutions, as well as legally binding international human rights treaties, such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.Although medical care and access to medicines are vital features of the right to health, almost two billion people lack access to essential medicines, leading to immense avoidable suffering. Improving access to essential medicines could save 10 million lives each year, four million of them in Africa and South-East Asia alone. Gross inequity is a shocking feature of the world pharmaceutical situation.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Transparency to Improve Good Governance in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Sector of Iran

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasaman Herandi ◽  
Shekoufeh Nikfar ◽  
Hossein Bouzarjomehri ◽  
Akbar Abdollahiasl
Keyword(s):  
Good Governance ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Pharmaceutical Sector ◽  
Online Tools ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Right ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Governance Transparency

Background: Improving good governance in the pharmaceutical sector is a valuable priority for improving access to essential medicines. Transparency as a means for good governance was the focus of this study. The objective was to evaluate different sectors of the pharmaceutical regulatory sector of Iran from the aspect of transparency. Awareness of the current situation may assist policymakers in making the right decisions. Methods: The aim of this methodology was to present only quantitative measurement but to gather qualitative information as well. The study was carried from November 2016 to July 2017. The questionnaires of the assessment instrument, which the World Health Organization (WHO) produced for measuring transparency in the public pharmaceutical sector, was used. The interviewees were among managers and staff at different levels of the Food and Drug Administration (IFDA) of Iran and its clients. Results: Medicines registration and distribution of medicines’ scores in the 10-point rating system means that they are minimally vulnerable to corruption. Besides, medicine promotion control and procurement of medical products got an acceptable score, which means that they are marginally vulnerable to corruption. On the other hand, qualitative findings and observation of the evidence presented by key informants proved the sufficient legal capacity for transparency in almost all sections. The controversial issue was the ‘conflict of interests,’ which was not anticipated in some cases. Conclusion: It is valuable to know if Iran’s medicine regulatory sector is transparent In order to improve good governance, transparency should be maximized in all sectors, and this is possible by implementing mechanized actions and online tools.

Chemistry of Iodinated Contrast Media (ICM): A Minireview

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maithili Pramod Joshi ◽  
Ameya Chaudhari ◽  
Prashant S. Kharkar ◽  
Shreerang V. Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Contrast Media ◽  
Aqueous Solubility ◽  
Synthetic Methods ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Iodinated Contrast Media ◽  
Environmental Aspects ◽  
Iodinated Contrast ◽  
Health Organization

: Historically, the use of Iodinated Contrast Media (ICM) for diagnostic purposes, particularly radiography and computed tomography (CT), is well-known. Many of the ICM are included in the World Health Organization (WHO)’s List of Essential Medicines. Depending on the chemotype and the presence of ionizable functional group(s), the ICM are categorized in the ionic/nonionic monomers/dimers. The lipophilicity, aqueous solubility, viscosity and osmolality are major characteristics dictating their use for one procedure versus the other. Over last several decades, substantial advancement occurred in the design and development of novel ICM, solely to reduce their propensity to cause adverse effects. Given the nature of their acute usage, some of the agents with appreciable toxicity are still used. Understanding their chemistry aspects is crucial to appreciate, acknowledge and justify the usage of these extremely important torch-bearers of diagnostic agent’s class. The present review article presents an in-depth overview of the synthetic methods, therapeutic indications, potential adverse effects along with the commercial and environmental aspects of ICM. The safety and tolerability of these agents is a field that has gained significant importance, which is given due importance in the discussion.

scholarly journals A critical comparison between the World Health Organization list of essential medicines for children and the Brazilian list of essential medicines (Rename)

2013 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-178
Author(s):  
Helena Lutéscia L. Coelho ◽  
Luís Carlos Rey ◽  
Marina S.G. de Medeiros ◽  
Ronaldo A. Barbosa ◽  
Said G. da Cruz Fonseca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Critical Comparison ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Medicines For Children

scholarly journals IoT and Deep Learning Based Approach for Rapid Screening and Face Mask Detection for Infection Spread Control of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3495
Author(s):  
Shabir Hussain ◽  
Yang Yu ◽  
Muhammad Ayoub ◽  
Akmal Khan ◽  
Rukhshanda Rehman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rapid Screening ◽  
Screening System ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
The Face ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Vaccine Distribution

The spread of COVID-19 has been taken on pandemic magnitudes and has already spread over 200 countries in a few months. In this time of emergency of COVID-19, especially when there is still a need to follow the precautions and developed vaccines are not available to all the developing countries in the first phase of vaccine distribution, the virus is spreading rapidly through direct and indirect contacts. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides the standard recommendations on preventing the spread of COVID-19 and the importance of face masks for protection from the virus. The excessive use of manual disinfection systems has also become a source of infection. That is why this research aims to design and develop a low-cost, rapid, scalable, and effective virus spread control and screening system to minimize the chances and risk of spread of COVID-19. We proposed an IoT-based Smart Screening and Disinfection Walkthrough Gate (SSDWG) for all public places entrance. The SSDWG is designed to do rapid screening, including temperature measuring using a contact-free sensor and storing the record of the suspected individual for further control and monitoring. Our proposed IoT-based screening system also implemented real-time deep learning models for face mask detection and classification. This module classified individuals who wear the face mask properly, improperly, and without a face mask using VGG-16, MobileNetV2, Inception v3, ResNet-50, and CNN using a transfer learning approach. We achieved the highest accuracy of 99.81% while using VGG-16 and the second highest accuracy of 99.6% using MobileNetV2 in the mask detection and classification module. We also implemented classification to classify the types of face masks worn by the individuals, either N-95 or surgical masks. We also compared the results of our proposed system with state-of-the-art methods, and we highly suggested that our system could be used to prevent the spread of local transmission and reduce the chances of human carriers of COVID-19.

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