A Video Primer

This video was produced for the recent IFMSA International Conference (http://www.ukam2007.org/) which focused on Access to Essential Medicines throughout the world. It briefly introduces many of the issues surrounding access to essential medicines. Some of the questions raised such as:

• What does access to essential medicines mean?
• What exactly is meant by the term essential?
• Whose responsibility is it to find the answers?
• Is access to essential medicines a human right?
• What can we do as students?

will be addressed by upcoming guest bloggers in the days to come. If you would like to blog in depth on any of the issues presented in this video, please let us know. We would love to have you contribute.

A beginning

In recent years, increasing attention has been placed on increasing access to essential medicines in lower- and middle-income countries. This blog is dedicated to keeping those interested in this important struggle informed regarding the historical background of essential medicines, up-to-date on new developments, and a place where people can freely discuss and explore the many important issues surrounding access to essential medicines. In the coming months, we hope to have guest bloggers contribute to the dialogue. We hope that you find this site useful and encourage you to participate actively. If you have something that you would like to contribute, please do not hesitate to let us know.