Presented to CSO workshops in Kabwe on 18 July 2014, Livingstone on 28 July 2014 and

Lusaka on 27 August 2014

MeTA CORE PRINCIPLES

IntroductionMedicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA)

is a network of individuals and organizations in seven countries.

Network includes health workers, administrators, Civil servants, politicians, pharmaceutical company employees, civil society and international organizations and the media.

MeTA CORE PRINCIPLESAIM – Improving the lives of millions of people

by helping them get access to the medicines they need.

METHOD – The use of the tools of Transparency and Accountability

They are also committed to the core principles that underpin MeTA’s approach. Signing up to these principles is an important first step for all stakeholders wanting to engage in the MeTA process.

MeTA CORE PRINCIPLESThe Core principles areGovernments are responsible for

providing access to health care, including access to essential medicines

Stronger and more transparency systems and improved supply chain management will increase access

MeTA CORE PRINCIPLESIncreasing equitable access to medicines

improves health and enables other human development objectives to be achieved

Improved information about medicines can inform public debate, and provide a basis for better policy

MeTA CORE PRINCIPLESA multi-stakeholder approach that

involves all sectors – private, public and civil society – will lead to greater accountability

Why Transparency and Accountability?Why ACCESS?Why Multi-stakeholder Alliance?

Transparency & AccountabilityIn many developing countries like ZAMBIA

there is little publicly available information on the price, quality, availability and promotion of medicines.

The three information blockages are:Information doesn’t existIt exists but not in a publicly accessible form

orIt is publicly available but no-one knows so

no-one uses it

Transparency & AccountabilityLack of openness and accountability

contribute toExcessive price mark-ups

Corruption

Poor forecasting of essential medicines leading to shortages

Transparency & AccountabilityLarge but infrequent orders that put a burden

on local infrastructure leading to the trashing of products that are beyond their sell-by date

Increased risk of theft or spoilage through inefficient storage and supply and

Poor quality counterfeit drugs

Transparency & AccountabilityFor MeTA information improves decision

making and therefore efficiency in the medicines supply chain. Openness – disclosure of information – is at the heart of MeTA’s work.

Efficiency can mean lower prices and greater consistency in the quality of medicines: especially, medicines that are more cost-effective and clinically effective.

In Zambia theft was cut by providing information on the delivery of medicines in rural health centres to local health committees made up of members of the local community.

ACCESSAccess to health care is a fundamental

human right recognized by governments around the world.

Fulfillment of that right must include access to good, quality, affordable medicines.

ACCESSAvailability can be restricted by a variety

of factors, ranging from cost of medicines to transport problems and from fraud and inefficiency in the supply chain to doctors’ lack of knowledge about specific drugs.

Weak health systems, a common deficiency in developing countries, can mean that staff to prescribe, dispense and deliver medicines are not available

MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ALLIANCEMeTA is not a funding mechanism but a

programme that strongly advocates creating conditions for multi-stakeholder processes,

MeTA coordinates action and synthesizes knowledge that enables social learning to resolve collectively issues on medicines.

MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ALLIANCEOne of MeTA’s key elements is to use a

multi-stakeholder approach. This important principle recognizes that

complex issues such as the supply of effective, affordable medicines involve many different interest groups and individuals who see the problems and solutions only from their own perspective.

The resulting clash of interest often leads to the emergence of a dominant group which imposes its favoured policy.

MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ALLIANCEBut there is another way, the various

stakeholders can agree to work together on an equitable basis recognizing the validity of others’ interests, sharing information and views.

A ‘neutral’ space in which to work is created, a shared understanding of the problems, common ways of working and an agreed agenda among everyone taking part.

MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ALLIANCEIn MeTA’s case, this means establishing

a forum for representatives of everyone involved in the medicines supply chain viz

Manufacturers, governments, international organizations, traders, medical workers, academics, the media and patients.