Search

The article reports on the essential medicines for universal health coverage, Topics discussed include the five areas that are needed for essential medicines like paying for a basket of essential medicines, making essential medicines affordable, and assuring the quality and safety of medicines. Also being discussed is the need for respositioning of essential medicines policies on the global development agenda.

The article proposes measures to improve efficiency in medicine supply, increase financing for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and integrate pharmaceutical management for diseases with existing initiatives. Particular focus is given to the 2011 United Nations (UN) political declaration on the prevention and control NCDs. It points out the need for policy makers to address inequities in access to controlled opioid analgesics.

Summary Background Most countries in the world have become States parties to one or more international human rights treaties, thus creating an obligation by the State to its people towards the realisation of the right to health, which includes access to essential medicines. But whether such access is enforceable in practice is unknown. Methods We did a systematic search to identify completed court cases in low-income and middle-income countries in which individuals or groups had claimed access to essential medicines with reference to the right to health in general, or to specific human rights treaties ratified by the government. We identified and analysed 71 court cases from 12 countries in which access to essential medicines was claimed with reference to the right to health. Findings In 59 cases, access to essential medicines as part of the fulfilment of the right to health could indeed be enforced through the courts, with most coming from Central and Latin America. Success was mainly linked to constitutional provisions on the right to health, supported by the human rights treaties. Other success factors were a link between the right to health and the right to life, and support by public-interest non-government organisations. Individual cases have generated entitlements across a population group, the right to health was not restricted by limitations in social security coverage, and government policies have successfully been challenged in court. Interpretation Skilful litigation can help to ensure that governments fulfil their constitutional and international treaty obligations. Such assurances are especially valuable in countries in which social security systems are still being developed. However, redress mechanisms through the courts should be used as a last resort. Rather, policymakers should ensure that human rights standards guide their health policies and programmes from the outset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a letter to the editor in response to the article "Boosting access to essential medicines for children," by the editors published in the July 29, 2006 issue.

Presents a letter to the editors regarding an article which appeared in a previous issue of 'The Lancet' and discussed the ensuring of ethical drug promotion.

The article reports on the list of essential medicines released by the World Health Organization (WHO). Topics covered include the drugs included in the list such as delamanid, bedaquiline and imatinib. Also mentioned is the importance of the list to treat rare health conditions including hepatitis C and tuberculosis.