RESOURCE CENTER

XVII Conference in Mexico City

August 3-8, 2008

Six SCMS staff joined more than 22,000 people in Mexico City August 3-8 for the International AIDS Conference. About 40 people attended "Essential Medicines for HIV/AIDS," a satellite session sponsored by WHO.

David Jamieson, Deputy for Country Programs and Partnerships, represented SCMS, with other panelists from CHAI, the Global Fund, UNICEF and WHO. Panelists engaged in a lively discussion about quality assurance, with general agreement that there has been success in lowering prices, therefore stakeholders are now focusing on quality, availability and timeliness. The session concluded with the observation that prequalification doesn't mean that a manufacturer will consistency provide quality medicines.

Jamieson and Maureen Murtagh, Director of Diagnostic Services at the Clinton Foundation's HIV/AIDS Initiative presented a poster on best practices in the procurement of laboratory equipment. Patients suffer when laboratory equipment sits broken or idle, or when reagents stock out. The joint presentation between SCMS and CHAI promoted strategies for standardization of testing and equipment, negotiation with vendors and donors, and advocacy for policies to ensure that laboratories are prepared to support HIV/AIDS treatment programs.

Said Jamieson, "At the conference we heard that people are now wanting to see how HIV/AIDS funding is helping strengthen health systems overall. Our work in supply chains directly addresses these concerns." The conference also reinforced a trend that we have already seen: a coming increase in procurement overall and news areas of focus such as nutritional supplements, blood safety products and male circumcision supplies.