231520 Understanding the role of donated medicines and medical supplies in disaster relief efforts vis-à-vis Global Health Partnerships

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 9:24 AM - 9:42 AM

Veronica Arroyave, MPH , Institute for Policy & Governance, Virginia Tech's School of Public & International Affairs, Blacksburg, VA
Across the public and social sciences today there is much talk of the role of donated medicines and medical supplies in disaster relief efforts. Pharmaceutical manufacturers in partnership with nonprofit/nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), sometimes called global health partnerships, often donate medicines and medical supplies in response to large-scale disasters and humanitarian crises. While donated medicines provide a bridge to assist communities through catastrophic circumstances that otherwise wipe out long-term sustainable programs, the lack of systematic consideration of medical/health product donations in such situations is warranted. The research intends to examine global health partnerships involved in emergency response and intends to identify and understand key strategies, barriers and benefits confronting delivering donated health products both domestically and abroad looking specifically at responses to the Asian tsunami (2004), Hurricane Katrina (2005) and Haiti (2010). Findings from this qualitative study should assist NGOs, funders, public and private stakeholders, and the global community in developing models of dialogue and cooperation to better respond in disasters and advocate for policies that will build capacity in communities. Publication of the report's findings may contribute to other facets of material aid delivery beyond the distribution of medical products and supplies. This report will address the complexities of collaboration, coordination, communication, deployment of resources, and allocation of responsibility in both domestic and international arenas of disaster relief. As such, it may serve as a tool for long-term strategic dialogue among the global pharmaceutical donors and the recipient community.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Program planning
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the current realities of global health partnerships working in emergency response in the delivery of health product donations. Illustrate the underlying factors associated with the use of medicines and material aid distribution. Describe the benefits, barriers and strategies global health partnerships operating in emergency response.

Keywords: Drugs, Partnerships

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: The presentation is based on my own research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4043.0: Global Pharmaceutical issues