Solutions

There is no single, simple solution to the problem of increasing access to medicines to those who need them.  Many organizations and individuals have proposed practical strategies for change.  AMSA advocates for education, policy change, and direct action as strategies for promoting awareness about and increasing access to medicines across the world.

Many organizations have proposed practical strategies for increasing access to medicines:

• Comprehensive Strategies
• Budget Ceilings
• Parallel Importation
• Role of US in Trade Agreements
• Leveraging Pharmaceutical Companies
• Role of Universities

Comprehensive strategies

• United Nations report on the Millennium Development Goals and Access to Medicines: main site , chapter of report on AtM (pdf)
• World Health Organization (WHO) Draft of new Medicines Strategy: main site , draft document (pdf)
• Intergovernmental Working Group - WHO's website
  

Budget Ceilings

• Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC) on the IMF and Budget Ceilings (pdf)

Parallel Importation

• SGAC on Parallel Importing (importation of patented products without the approval of the patent-holder)

Role of the US in Trade Agreements

• SGAC on US Trade Represenative, Thailand, Malaysia, and Korea (pdf) (see page 13)

Leveraging Pharmaceutical Companies

• SGAC on Abbott and Kaletra (pdf) (see page 11)

• Brazil vs. Merck
  • Brazil Puts Patients over Patents
  • Brazil Breaks Patent on HIV Drug: Dispelling the Myths
• Thailand vs. Abbott
  • Thailand issues compulsory licenses
  • Abbott vs. Thailand: Fact or Fiction?
  Oxfam International on Responsible Business Practices (pdf)

Role of Universities

• Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) - Proposals
  • Open licensing
  • US Congressional policy change
  • Promoting neglected disease research, and
  • Access metrics