ANALIKWU K.B. The role of academia NAPA Lagos.pptx

Importance of academia in ensuring access to safe and effective medicines

1. Role of academia in ensuring access to safe and effective medicines ANALIKWU K. B.

2. Introduction The UN defines access to medicines as availability, affordability, accessibility, and acceptability of a minimum list of 20 essential medicines within 1-hour walking distance from the patient's home. Prescription drugs can improve health, but safety risks must be considered. Regulatory agencies and academic institutions monitor drug benefits and risks, advancing pharmacoepidemiology . Academia and regulatory agencies must work together to prioritize drug safety through reliable data and specialized centres for pharmacoepidemiology. Strengthening this partnership can greatly benefit public health.

3. Background Challenges associated with access to medicines Barriers to accessible healthcare: high medicine costs, essential medicine shortages, and substandard/falsified medical products in the supply chain. Importance of safe and effective medicines in healthcare Unsafe medication practices can cause serious harm to patients, including side effects, adverse reactions, misuse, and issues with prescribing, dispensing, administering, or monitoring medicines. These errors also create financial burdens for healthcare systems, with an estimated cost of $42 billion USD annually worldwide. Errors can occur at any stage of the medication process. Effect of inadequate access Reliance on imports for essential medicines leads to shortages and increases the risk of counterfeit drugs due to a lack of local production and distrust of domestic drugs. This can worsen illnesses and harm consumers.

4. Key roles of academia I n research and development Academics aid drug development through research, consultancy, and as key opinion leaders, contributing to clinical trials. I n drug safety and efficacy through research and testing Academia plays a vital role in drug safety and efficacy by conducting research, testing, and education. in training future healthcare professionals Academia educates and prepares future healthcare professionals with knowledge, experience, ethics, and a commitment to learning, ensuring safe and effective patient-centered care.

5. Key Roles of Academia I n research and development Academics assist in drug development through consultancy and service as key opinion leaders, aiding in clinical trial design and implementation . I n drug safety and efficacy through research and testing Academia contributes to drug safety and efficacy through basic research, pre-clinical studies, drug formulation, clinical trial design, pharmacovigilance, post-market surveillance, pharmacogenomics and education. Their rigorous research and testing are crucial for bringing safe and effective medicines to patients. in training future healthcare professionals Academia plays a vital role in educating and preparing future healthcare professionals. It offers comprehensive programs that equip them with theoretical knowledge, practical experience, ethical standards, and a commitment to ongoing learning. This ensures they can deliver safe, effective, and patient-centered care.

6. Roles of Academia in Access to Medicines The role of academia in ensuring access to safe and effective medicines is crucial for public health and has multiple facets. Research and development : Scientists and pharma work together to develop new meds. c linical trials : Drug trials by academia generate crucial treatment data for regulatory approval. Education and training : Academic institutions teach safe medication handling and prescribing to healthcare professionals. Policy and advocacy : Academia advises policymakers on drug access, affordability, and safety based on evidence. Drug safety monitoring : Academia monitors drug safety and adverse reactions continuously.

7. Roles of Academia in Access to Medicines G lobal health initiative : Academic institutions partner with global health initiatives to improve medicine access in underserved areas. O pen access initiative : Academic institutions support open access initiatives to share research findings and data, which can speed up drug development. interdisciplinary collaboration : Academia encourages collaboration among different fields to solve complex drug issues. Innovation : Through academic research, novel approaches to drug development and delivery are explored, potentially leading to more cost-effective and accessible medicines. e thical considerations : Academia discusses ethical issues related to access to medicines, including affordability and equitable distribution, as well as the ethics of clinical trials in vulnerable populations.

8. Case s Review Breakthrough s Academic research has led to life-saving medicines and treatments like insulin, penicillin, the polio vaccine, stem cell therapies, the HPV vaccine, monoclonal antibodies for cancer, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, HIV/AIDS treatments, and mRNA vaccines for COVID-19. Academic institutions collaborating Developing drugs for academic use is challenging due to limited funding, high research costs, licensing issues, regulatory hurdles, and potential conflicts of interest. Ethical dilemmas, global health disparities, and limited collaboration can also complicate matters. To overcome these obstacles, we need to increase funding, streamline regulations, establish ethical guidelines, and improve collaboration for safe and accessible medicines.

9. Opportunities Through collaborative efforts, global partnerships, open access initiatives, digital health, 3D printing, drug repurposing, AI, community engagement, alternative funding, regulatory advocacy, pharmacogenomics, drug pricing transparency, vaccine development, and health economics research, academia can play a vital role in innovating and expanding access to safe medicines. By embracing these opportunities, academia can ensure that safe and effective medicines are accessible to a wider range of people.

10. Collaborations Importance of Collaboration Partnerships between academia, pharma, government, and non-profits are crucial for advancing healthcare. These collaborations accelerate drug development, provide funding and data, promote ethical oversight, and foster innovation that benefits society. Examples of collaboration Partnerships between academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, governments, and non-profit organizations have led to significant advancements in healthcare access. Examples include Gavi's distribution of vaccines, the development of antimalarial drugs by the Medicines for Malaria Venture, The discovery of new HIV/AIDS treatments through collaboration. Other successful partnerships include The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, the Innovative Medicines Initiative, and COVID-19 vaccine development. These partnerships demonstrate the importance of pooling resources and knowledge to improve public health worldwide.

11. Recommendations H ow academia can improve medication access To improve global public health, academia can: Promote funding, Open-access publishing, and collaborations with government agencies and non-profits. Foster interdisciplinary collaborations and allocate resources to neglected diseases and adverse drug reaction investigations. Include access and equity in healthcare curricula, participate in global health initiatives, and embrace digital health technologies. Advocate for ethical research practices, Involve local communities in drug development, establish networks and alliances, and regularly assess impact. These efforts can improve access to safe and effective medicines, ultimately benefiting diverse populations in need .

12. CONCLUSION The role of academia in the healthcare ecosystem is crucial as it contributes to the discovery, evaluation, education, and advocacy necessary for ensuring access to safe and effective medicines for all. Collaborative efforts with industry, government, and non-profit sectors are essential to address the complex challenges of healthcare access.

13. References Lo Re V 3rd, Strom BL. The role of academia and the research community in assisting the Food and Drug Administration to ensure U.S. drug safety. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf . 2007 Jul;16(7):818-25. doi : 10.1002/pds.1398. PMID: 17436357. Adebisi, Y. A.-P.-S. (2022). Revisiting the issue of access to medicines in Africa: Challenges and recommendations. Public Health Challenges, 1. doi:https ://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.9 Tan, J. A. (2013). Academic Centers Play a Vital Role in the Study of Drug Safety and Effectiveness. Clinical Therapeutics, 35, p. 380. doi:https ://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2013.02.023 Vincent Lo Re, B. S. (2007, July). The role of academia and the research community in assisting the Food and Drug Administration to ensure U.S. drug safety. ResearchGate, 16, pp. 818-25. doi:DOI:10.1002/pds.1398 Tan, J., Alexander, G. C., & Segal, J. B. (2013). Academic Centers Play a Vital Role in the Study of Drug Safety and Effectiveness. Clinical Therapeutics, 35(4), 380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2013.02.023