The Drug Policy Research Group (DPRG) in the Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention (DACP) at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, jointly with the Center for International Health and Development (CIHD) at Boston University School of Public Health, forms the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center in Pharmaceutical Policy (WHO CCPP). The DPRG is led in its international work by Associate Professor Dennis Ross-Degnan, ScD, who co-directs the Center with Jonathon Simon, ScD at the CIHD. For more than two decades, these groups have worked with colleagues at WHO on applied research intended to improve access to and quality use of medicines in developing countries. This research is particularly crucial since one-third of the world's population still lacks access to essential medicines.

The Center trains fellows in pharmaceutical policy research; works with WHO and other international partners on joint research initiatives to improve use of medicines; develops interventions for medicines-related policy and behavior change; and provides a global forum for exchanging research results and identifying new issues in the field.

Major accomplishments of the WHO CCPP to date include the International Conference on Improving Use of Medicines held in Chang Mai, Thailand on March 30-April 4, 2004. Based in part on findings from the conference, the WHO CCPP has begun to develop a global initiative to strengthen medicines policies in insurance programs. As part of this initiative, the WHO CCPP will conduct modular training courses on developing, implementing, and monitoring evidence-based medicines policies using routinely collected insurance claims data.

The Center's work is aligned with several of DACP's core themes including development of evidence-based approaches to health; improving medical care for disadvantaged and high-risk populations; and promoting innovative health education and health care quality improvements.

Copyright 2005© Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. This page was last modified on October 15, 2005