Our main events for today included a visit to the Pharmaceuticals Fund and Supply Agency (PFSA) in the morning. In the afternoon, we split into two groups with half of the group visiting the African Union (AU) and the other half visiting Novartis.
Meeting 1 - PFSA:
The PFSA is responsible for ensuring an “uninterrupted supply of pharmaceuticals” for Ethiopia. They were able to provide much insight into the importation and process. Nearby there was some serious construction of new buildings as you can see in the above pictures. The hospitality shown by the PFSA was exemplary. Some challenges were identified including that there is a lack of foreign currency at times within the banking system in Ethiopia.
Meeting 1 - PFSA:
The PFSA is responsible for ensuring an “uninterrupted supply of pharmaceuticals” for Ethiopia. They were able to provide much insight into the importation and process. Nearby there was some serious construction of new buildings as you can see in the above pictures. The hospitality shown by the PFSA was exemplary. Some challenges were identified including that there is a lack of foreign currency at times within the banking system in Ethiopia.
Meeting 2 - AU:
The team that visited the AU included Beatrice, Hicki, Jodi-Ann and Nevill, along with Dr. Maeir and Dr. Girum. We were able to visit with Dr. Johan Strijdom, Head of the Social Welfare Division at the African Union. Dr. Strijdom, aka Uncle Johnnie, was quite helpful in answering the many questions the team had for him regarding establishing and maintaining relationships across the IGAD region. He also offered advice as to some things to be considered to ensure the success of the RCCE. He even stated that the AU would love to support an initiative such as this as its success would lead to the betterment of the IGAD region and Africa by extension. All in all, the meeting was quite productive and we all left feeling quite excited about the promised support from the AU.
The team that visited the AU included Beatrice, Hicki, Jodi-Ann and Nevill, along with Dr. Maeir and Dr. Girum. We were able to visit with Dr. Johan Strijdom, Head of the Social Welfare Division at the African Union. Dr. Strijdom, aka Uncle Johnnie, was quite helpful in answering the many questions the team had for him regarding establishing and maintaining relationships across the IGAD region. He also offered advice as to some things to be considered to ensure the success of the RCCE. He even stated that the AU would love to support an initiative such as this as its success would lead to the betterment of the IGAD region and Africa by extension. All in all, the meeting was quite productive and we all left feeling quite excited about the promised support from the AU.
Meeting 3 – Novartis:
The meeting with Novartis faced some technical difficulties off of the start. It was apparent fairly quickly that they had a deep desire to help with helping patients to access effective medications. There were many awards and certificates of appreciation on their wall from different initiatives within Ethiopia. There were representatives for the region from Kenya as well as local associates responsible for Ethiopia overall pharmaceuticals and as well an associate responsible specifically for Cancer specific medications. Many of the issues raised by the PFSA were also raised by Novartis. There will have to be some innovations regarding supply chain. Financing due to the low amount of foreign currency available within Ethiopia and the costing of expensive chemotherapies. Novartis did mention that they currently have programs providing first line and second line chemotherapies for leukemia patients at Black Lion. Novartis is definitely interested in furthering partnerships and agreements with the RCCE as well. It will be interesting to see the agreements that occur through further communication as the business plan is developed.
The meeting with Novartis faced some technical difficulties off of the start. It was apparent fairly quickly that they had a deep desire to help with helping patients to access effective medications. There were many awards and certificates of appreciation on their wall from different initiatives within Ethiopia. There were representatives for the region from Kenya as well as local associates responsible for Ethiopia overall pharmaceuticals and as well an associate responsible specifically for Cancer specific medications. Many of the issues raised by the PFSA were also raised by Novartis. There will have to be some innovations regarding supply chain. Financing due to the low amount of foreign currency available within Ethiopia and the costing of expensive chemotherapies. Novartis did mention that they currently have programs providing first line and second line chemotherapies for leukemia patients at Black Lion. Novartis is definitely interested in furthering partnerships and agreements with the RCCE as well. It will be interesting to see the agreements that occur through further communication as the business plan is developed.
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