Charles Allotey Health Access Network 16 th April 2009 MeTA Ghana: CSO & Media Orientation Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and MeTA

CSO INVOLVEMENT IN META: RATIONALE Human rights and the right to health includes the provision of essential medicines. CSOs and MeTA have common interests working together, there is highest chance of making genuine impact on AEM. Opportunity for sharing different interests, perspectives and expertise among different stakeholders, generating synergies (CSOs working from “inside not outside”) Enhance broad stakeholder participation in policy development and implementation The Principle of Accountability: Allows stakeholders to hold each other accountable

Human rights and the right to health includes the provision of essential medicines.

CSOs and MeTA have common interests working together, there is highest chance of making genuine impact on AEM.

Opportunity for sharing different interests, perspectives and expertise among different stakeholders, generating synergies (CSOs working from “inside not outside”)

Enhance broad stakeholder participation in policy development and implementation

The Principle of Accountability: Allows stakeholders to hold each other accountable

Common issues on AEM- CSOs and MeTA Price and affordability: Why is it that many people cannot afford the medicines they need. Quality: Why should people receive poor quality medicines? Poor quality medicines can lead to worsening health, increased disease and even death. Availability- How come patients are often unable to get the medicines they need at health facilities. Promotion: How do we ensure that information about Medicines does not become misleading Rational Use: Can we always guarantee patient’s adherence to medication use? Can we avoid Medication errors? How???

Price and affordability: Why is it that many people cannot afford the medicines they need.

Quality: Why should people receive poor quality medicines? Poor quality medicines can lead to worsening health, increased disease and even death.

Availability- How come patients are often unable to get the medicines they need at health facilities.

Promotion: How do we ensure that information about Medicines does not become misleading

Rational Use: Can we always guarantee patient’s adherence to medication use? Can we avoid Medication errors? How???

Objectives of CSO Group National network of trained CSOs established to engage in MeTA processes build knowledge on transparency and efficiency issues related to access to medicines build skills in methods used to promote greater transparency and accountability at national, district and community levels To promote consumer access to information on aspects of pricing, availability and rational use of medicines with the non-literate members of the society in mind

National network of trained CSOs established to engage in MeTA processes

build knowledge on transparency and efficiency issues related to access to medicines

build skills in methods used to promote greater transparency and accountability at national, district and community levels

To promote consumer access to information on aspects of pricing, availability and rational use of medicines

with the non-literate members of the society in mind

CSOs and MeTA: Benefits Get the people whose welfare we are seeking involved in the common issues of AEM Empower CSO & build capacity in the field of access to medicines to support disclosure and accountability along the medicine supply chain. Promote the use of information to improve consumer access to essential medicines. Increase collaboration, improve dialogue with public and private sectors Enhance contribution by civil society to policy dialogue

Get the people whose welfare we are seeking involved in the common issues of AEM

Empower CSO & build capacity in the field of access to medicines to support disclosure and accountability along the medicine supply chain.

Promote the use of information to improve consumer access to essential medicines.

Increase collaboration, improve dialogue with public and private sectors

Enhance contribution by civil society to policy dialogue

Conclusion CSOs will work with Media in achieving MeTA objectives to enhance dissemination of information Media support and cooperation strongly Needed Commitment of CSOs to the MeTA process MeTA Secretariat support for CSO activities

CSOs will work with Media in achieving MeTA objectives to enhance dissemination of information

Media support and cooperation strongly Needed

Commitment of CSOs to the MeTA process

MeTA Secretariat support for CSO activities