[afro-nets] ARV Policy, Adherence, and Program Management Course

[Sarah Petty <spetty@bu.edu>]

ARV Policy, Adherence, and Program Management Course
----------------------------------------------------

16 - 27 July, 2007
Boston, MA USA

WHO Collaborating Center in Pharmaceutical Policy and Boston
University Seminar

Antiretroviral Program Management Issues in Low Resource
Settings: A Training Seminar for Policy Makers & Program
Managers

Background
Funding through Global Fund, PEPFAR, and other initiatives has
recently transformed AIDS into a treatable disease in developing
and transitional countries. Resources such as ARVs and
diagnostics are now available; however, rapid scale-up of AIDS
treatment programs has not occurred, in part, due to ARV drug
management issues. ARV drug management issues include
difficulties with pharmaceutical supply systems and logistics,
insufficient human resources to provide ART and barriers to ARV
adherence.

Seminar Overview

Week One (July 16-20, 2007): Drug Management Key Issues:
A description of the various national and international players
involved in ARV management will be discussed with
recommendations to efficiently coordinate efforts. Specific drug
management issues to be covered include: evidence-based
selection of medications, quantification, procurement, pricing,
quality assurance, pre-qualification of suppliers and monitoring
and evaluation.

Week 2 (July 23-27, 2007): ARV Adherence:
An overview of adherence issues will be followed by instruction
on how to measure ARV adherence. Approaches to improve adherence
to AIDS and other chronic diseases will be presented. A field
visit to an ARV adherence clinic will allow participants an
opportunity to interact with health care practitioners
(pharmacists, physicians, nurses, social workers, nutritionists)
involved in ARV adherence activities. The field visit will
include workshops with people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA),
allowing participants to consider the patient perspective of
initiation and adherence to ARVs.

Who Should Attend?
Policy makers, ARV Program Managers, and NGO Officials
responsible for national and local programs. Social scientists,
pharmacists, and other public health professionals interested in
ARV management and adherence.

Teaching Methods
Instruction will occur in English. The format will be highly
interactive with presentations by international experts followed
by facilitated group exercises and discussion. Case studies and
guided readings will be provided and substantial preparation is
required for each session. A field visit to an ARV Adherence
Clinic will be arranged. Classes will run in the mornings.

Faculty
Brenda Waning, Boston University School of Public Health;
Richard Laing, World Health Organization, Geneva;
Mike Montagne, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health
Sciences;
Libby Levison, Independent Consultant;
Lisa Hirschhorn, John Snow, Inc.

Fees
Conference costs (no academic credit): US$ 1,350 includes
tuition and materials fee.

For more information and an application contact
Sarah Petty
by phone: +1-617-638-5234
or mailto:spetty@bu.edu
http://international-health.org