GDF to co-host drug management workshops in Cotonou, Benin

In August 2006, two drug management workshops will be held for consultants and national tuberculosis (TB) programme (NTP) managers working in francophone Africa. The workshops, to be co-hosted by the GDF and Management Sciences for Health's (MSH) Rational Pharmaceutical Management Plus Programme, will take place in Cotonou, Benin from 7-11 August 2006 and from 14-18 August 2006.

The first workshop aims to train regionally based drug management experts in the specifics of conducting monitoring missions for GDF. The second workshop aims to strengthen the TB pharmaceutical management capacity of NTP managers in francophone Africa.

GDF consultants' workshop (7-11 August 2006)

GDF missions conducted throughout Africa determine if countries receiving GDF support are adhering to good TB pharmaceutical management practices as established in letters of agreement with the GDF. The number of countries receiving GDF anti-TB drugs is increasing, resulting in an increased need for trained consultants to participate in GDF missions.

Following their participation in the course, participants will commit to conducting 1-3 GDF missions per year, with their time being donated by their organization as a member of the Stop TB Partnership.

NTP Managers' workshop (14-18 August 2006)

The pharmaceutical management for TB workshop for NTP managers is designed to strengthen the skills and capabilities of staff responsible for anti-TB drug management in NTPs and ministries of health (MoH).

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• appropriately select and quantify anti-TB medicines and supplies for national programmes, taking into consideration the WHO’s TB treatment guidelines for the different TB categories;
• establish technical specifications and appropriate mechanisms of supply, so that the quality of medications and commodities procured and used in national programmes can be assured;
• establish appropriate mechanisms to guarantee that medicines and supplies are delivered to health services in a timely fashion and in adequate quantities;
• establish monitoring mechanisms to track anti-TB medications and supplies availability and use.

Furthermore, each country team will develop a TB pharmaceutical management improvement plan which can be practically applied and utilized by their programme upon return to their work setting.