Description
The aim of the project is to strengthen civil society and its role in decision-making processes and defending society interests, strengthen participatory democracy, good governance and transparency and to strengthen capacity of the association. The project plans participation in health care policy-making, research on certain drug usage and prescription aspects, utilization of nutritional supplements after the expiry date, as well as public education on rational use of drugs. These measures will help to highlight risks of corruption in the health care system, promote good governance, identify the problems in drug utilization, field of generic drugs, field of nutritional supplement advertising, as well as to educate the society (children, students, seniors) in rational drug usage issues regarding ethical aspects of pharmaceutical industry and doctor relationships, specifics of drug advertising, strengthened overall capacity of the organization. Target group: NGOs, inhabitants
Summary of project results
The goals of the programme that Health Projects for Latvia set when applying for the EEA grant have been achieved. We can assert that the role of Health Projects for Latvia in the decision making process conserning health and pharmaceuticals policies has been strengthened, thus has been strengthened the overall role of civil society organisations in the decision making processes in Latvia. We have been actively involved in public advocacy activities, strengthening democracy, good governance and transparency. During these 28 months while the programme was implemented we have significantly build the capacity of our organization. Main activities of the programme: 1) participation in policy-making and contributing to good governance of health and pharmaceutical policies in Latvia; 2) research on certain aspects of prescription habits and use of medicines (for instance: the use of generic medicines in Latvia, the governance of medicines reimbursement system in Latvia, advertising of medicines and food supplements, utilization of medicines after their expiry date; 3) education of different groups of society (campaign aimed at promoting rational use of medicines, summer school for medicine and pharmacy students on pharmaceutical promotion and how to respond to it, study programme for school-children regarding rational use of medicines, workshops for seniors regarding advertisements of medicines, workshop for patient and healthcare professionals NGOs regarding conflicts of interest). Results of the programme: 1) 7 documents with recommendations contributing to policy-making submitted to different institutions (mostly, governmental institutions such as Ministry of Health of the Republic of Latvia, National Health Service, Health Inspectorate of the Republic of Latvia, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia); risks of corruption and conflicts of interests in health-care system highlighted, contribution of civil society given in promotion of good governance; partnerships of civil society and governmental institutions build for the public good 2) with the research studies carried out by Health Projects for Latvia problems identified in utilization of medicines after their expiry date, in access and use of generic medicines, in the governance of medicines reimbursement system in Latvia, in advertisements of medicines and food supplements;
Summary of bilateral results