1. Looking back at IDA’s 40th Anniversary Symposium
Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam
21st November 2012

2. 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.

3. 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’

4. 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 Mumbai
office 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)

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. The afternoon sessions: debates!
Donatello Piras, from the Dutch
Debate 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 Pool
2. The quality assurance system of wholesalers should be abolished
3. The pharmaceutical industry should determine medicine prices

9. Talking about patents…
By comparing the medicines
market with the airplane
market in its early days, Ellen
‘t Hoen made the complex
world of intellectual property
rights much easier.
Ellen is the former MD of the
Medicines 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.

10. And is a QA system for wholesalers really
necessary?
Dr. Hans Hogerzeil
looks back at why
WHO 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

11. 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 very
important role in bringing ARV
prices 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.

12. Looking forward to the future of IDA
We reflected on the main points discussed during the day:
“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”
“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”

13. It was a day full of fruitful discussions
THANK YOU TO ALL PARTICIPANTS!!!