Looking back at IDA’s 40th Anniversary SymposiumRoyal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam

21st November 2012

Symposium: Opening of Morning Session

Opening of the symposium by Dr. Hans Hogerzeil, former Director of Quality at WHO. He introduced the various speakers of the morning programme, which focused on reflecting on IDA’s partnerships over the past 40 years.

Welcome, by Edwin de Voogd

Edwin de Voogd, Managing Director of IDA Foundation, looked back at when he joined IDA (2007), wondering whether our mission was still relevant. Reflecting on a trip to Western Africa, he saw first hand that IDA’s work was still relevant – AND necessary.

He concluded that YES IDA’s mission is relevant…BUT we are not there yet

Our focus for the future is achieving what companies such as Coca Cola, Wrigley’s and Apple have already done; reaching all corners of the world.

Therefore IDA will focus on ‘Ensuring availability - there where it is needed’

Reflecting on IDA’s rich history IDA Sales & Marketing Manager Hans Vollebregt read Mr. Shree Rajwade’s story of how IDA Foundation opened an office in Mumbai, India in 2006. Mr.Rajwade has been the general manager of our Mumbaioffice since the beginning.

Advisory Board member Wilbert Bannenberg spoke about the early years of IDA and how the organisation has professionalised over the years. He also identified the changes within the industry and how IDA can adapt to the changing landscape.

- Patents on medicines pose a challenge- More competition is also a good thing: essential drugs concept is well developed- Rise of non-communicable diseases vs. ATM- Our mission is relevant to neglected diseases and dosage forms (paediatric drugs)

Celebrating Partnership:Partners in Health

Kathryn Kempton, Director of International Operations spoke about the longstanding relationship between IDA and Partners in Health. Like IDA, PiH has grown from a small organisation of passionate volunteers to a large, international organisation, working on projects throughout the world.

After her presentation, she introduced a special message recorded by Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health. To see his message, click on the link below:

Message from Paul Farmer

GDF – IDA Foundation: Partners in the supply of TB medicines

Upscale schedule for second-line

TB medicines is ambitious.

However, if funding is assured,

targets can be reached by

focusing on:

• Solid global forecasting

• Manufacturing capacity

• Local capacity building

Dr. Kaspars Lunte, Team Leader MDR-TB medicines supply for GDF (WHO) spoke of the challenges faced by GDF in the supply of (2nd line) TB medicines. Looking ahead he emphasised the value of the IDA-GDF partnership and that in the coming years we will not only supply 2nd line, but 1st line TB drugs as well.

A customer’s perspective: CHAN Medi-Pharm

Mr. Matthew Azoji, CEO of CHAN

Medi-Pharm spoke about the main

pillars of our joint work in Nigeria. CHAN

and IDA already started their cooperation

in 1979!

• Through partnership, we were able to build the IDA brand in Nigeria

• Quality of medicines is key in a country where focus is not always on quality

• And an advice to IDA: don’t forget the increasing menace of non-communicable diseases

The afternoon sessions: debates!

Donatello Piras, from the DutchDebate Institute, explains the rules of the game:• We will debate 3 motions • Each motion will be introduced by an expert• The jury will decide which group comes up with the strongest arguments

The motions:1. All antiretrovirals should be licensed to the Medicines Patent Pool2. The quality assurance system of wholesalers should be abolished3. The pharmaceutical industry should determine medicine prices

Talking about patents…

By comparing the medicinesmarket with the airplane market in its early days, Ellen ‘t Hoen made the complex world of intellectual propertyrights much easier.

Ellen is the former MD of theMedicines Patent Pool.

After fierce debates, the larger part of the audience agrees to the motion: Indeed, all ARV’s should be licensed to the Medicines Patent Pool.

And is a QA system for wholesalers really necessary?

Dr. Hans Hogerzeil looks back at whyWHO ever started its prequalification Programme.QA is necessary for the mere reason that suppliers will give you quality A if they know you are testing, and quality B if they know you are not….

And the audience agrees:Yes, a quality assurance system for wholesalers is necessary. However:• We should at all times try to avoid duplication• We should work towards improving the National Drug Regulating Authorities in order for them to be able to take responsibility

And why should manufacturers not determine their own prices?

Dr. Joep Lange, founder of the Amsterdam Institute of Global Health, gives some arguments in favor and against manufacturers setting their own prices.And he underlines the role of activists. They played a veryimportant role in bringing ARVprices down…

We reach consensus: for branded industry and monopolist markets, regulation is necessary. Generic manufacturers on the other side, should be able to determine their own prices.

Looking forward to the future of IDA

“The middle of the pyramid would be a segment where IDA could add value: those patients able to pay a small amount for their medicines, however not the full price. Think about health insurance systems!”

“IDA can focus on “other” essential medicines: mother & child health, pediatric medicines, non-communicable diseases”

“IDA has an opportunity to engage the private sector: the traditional Central Medical Store system in many low- and medium income countries is changing and private sector’s role will be increasingly important”

We reflected on the main points discussed during the day:

“Our 40 years history shows we have achievements to be proud of, but there is still a lot of work to be done. We will continue to focus on ensuring availability of medicines – there where it is needed”

It was a day full of fruitful discussions

THANK YOU TO ALL PARTICIPANTS!!!