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This article discusses the importance of considering claims for medicines in a balanced and fair manner. It explores the expertise required by the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) and highlights the need for decisions to be based on scientific and clinical evidence. The involvement of the public, confidentiality, and special issues related to traditional medicines are also addressed.
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A QUESTION OF BALANCE: DEALING FAIRLY WITH CLAIMS FOR MEDICINES Peter Folb Treatment Action Campaign 26 September 2006
Note: Need clause CONSIDERING CLAIMS Quality Efficacy Safety - In the public interest National Regulatory Authority (NRA)
EXPERTISE REQUIRED BY NRA Clinical medicine Paediatrics Toxicology Clinical pharmacology Pharmacology Pharmacy and industrial pharmaceutics Statistics and epidemiology Public health
ALL DECISIONS OF THE NRA MUST BE • in the public interest • free of external influence • without fear or favour • based on strict scientific and clinical evidence • explicable to applicant and public
NOTES: SA ADMINISTRATIVE LAW CONFIDENTIALITY SPECIAL ISSUES • locus standi • audi alteram partem • subject to appeal • mandamus
INVOLVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC Encouraging public self- sufficiency Encouraging public self- sufficiency Risk – benefit assessment Conferring with the public Accounting to the public Rules for limiting advertisement NB: Government is an ordinary client – manufacture; advocacy role
TRADITIONAL MEDICINES – SPECIAL ISSUES Empirical nature of practice International pharmacopoeias Quality – Good Manufacturing Practice Safety – normal standards Efficacy – no misleading claims SETTING SCIENTIFIC STANDARDS
WORKING WITH THE HEALERS SA Novel Drugs Development Programme TB; malaria; diabetes; immune modulation Innovation Fund award Clinical trials (Note: ethics) Agricultural processing SETTING NEW STANDARDS OF COLLABORATION
WHO EVALUATION OF NRA Statutory basis for evaluation Quality systems for each NRA function Independence in decision-making Effective recall system Appropriate expertise and qualification of staff NRA institutional development plan Transparency and public accountability