2010-12-10
Johannesburg - The Global Fund to fight Aids will be inviting other international funders to intensify efforts to fight medicine theft, the organisation said on Friday.
Spokesperson Andrew Hurst said: "We will invite the agencies to take concerted action to stem drug thefts, ranging from information-sharing and joint strengthening of procurement and distribution capacity in developing countries to applying stringent security measures around drug storage and transport."
The Global Fund is a public/private partnership dedicated to providing resources to prevent and treat HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria.
Hurst said the theft of drugs was an old and persistent problem which was exacerbated by limited resources.
There have been reports of large-scale theft of new malaria drugs.
"The medicines, known as Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs), are given out for free or very cheaply in public health centres and hospitals in a large number of countries, but they are sold over the counter in pharmacies and street stalls for $8 or more per treatment.
"Typically, more than half of malaria drugs in African countries are not given out by doctors or nurses but are sold over the counter".
Michel Kazatchkine, the Global Fund's executive director said the problem could only be solved if all health institutions worked together.
The Fund has demanded stricter control with drug warehousing and distribution in five African countries already based on reports of possible drug thefts.
"Lessons from these countries and from other organisations' similar efforts will be shared and developed further over the coming months."
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Fund-to-fight-medicine-theft-20101210
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