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BMC International Health and Human Rights
Published in: BMC International Health and Human Rights 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Correspondence

An examination of pharmaceutical systems in severely disrupted countries

Authors: Jillian Clare Kohler, Enrico Pavignani, Markus Michael, Natalia Ovtcharenko, Maurizio Murru, Peter S Hill

Published in: BMC International Health and Human Rights | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

This research assesses informal markets that dominate pharmaceutical systems in severely disrupted countries and identifies areas for further investigation. Findings are based on recent academic papers, policy and grey literature, and field studies in Somalia, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti. The public sector in the studied countries is characterized in part by weak Ministries of Health and low donor coordination. Informal markets, where medicines are regularly sold in market stalls and unregulated pharmacies, often accompanied by unqualified medical advice, have proliferated. Counterfeit and sub-standard medicines trade networks have also developed. To help increase medicine availability for citizens, informal markets should be integrated into existing access to medicines initiatives.
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Metadata
Title
An examination of pharmaceutical systems in severely disrupted countries
Authors
Jillian Clare Kohler
Enrico Pavignani
Markus Michael
Natalia Ovtcharenko
Maurizio Murru
Peter S Hill
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC International Health and Human Rights / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1472-698X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-698X-12-34

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