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ICIUM 2004 Preliminary Announcement ICIUM 2004: The Second International Conference on Improving the Use of Medicines: March 30th to April 2nd 2004 in Chiang Mai, Thailand In April 1997, researchers and policymakers from around the world gathered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for the first International Conference on Improving Use of Medicines. This conference, supported by the World Health Organization Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy Department, the International Network for Rational Use of Drugs, the Applied Research on Child Health Project, and the Rational Pharmaceutical Management Project, was a milestone in producing a state of the art consensus on interventions to improve drug use and in defining a global research agenda to fill gaps in knowledge. The last five years have been filled with progress and challenges. The ICIUM1 supporting organizations supported the Joint Research Initiative to Improve the Use of Medicine (JRIIUM) to investigate innovative behavioral interventions. Health reform, decentralization, an exploding private sector, and new drug financing and incentive schemes have been explored in many settings. Several new global initiatives have been formed to tackle catastrophic epidemics and to improve access to essential medicines. Over all hangs the threat of rising pharmaceutical prices and rates of antimicrobial resistance. In March-April 2004, members of the international community will again assemble in Chiang Mai for ICIUM 2004: The Second International Conference on Improving the Use of Medicines. The predominant focus of ICIUM 2004 will be cost-effective interventions to improve the use of medicines. This focus will be explored in a sequence of sessions highlighting specific themes: a) International policies and systems; b) National policies, systems and programs; c) Hospitals and inpatient care; d) Primary care and private practice; e) Private pharmacies and drug sellers; and f) Community use of medicines. The program will be organized into several concurrent topic tracks including: 1. Malaria; 2. Tuberculosis; 3. HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Reproductive Health; 4. Child Health; 5. Chronic Diseases including Mental Health; 6. Antimicrobial Resistance; 7. Methodological Issues; 8. Impact of Access on Use; 9. [any more]. Participants with similar interests in a topic track will form a "meeting within a meeting" as they explore the conference themes. Researchers and policy makers are invited to register for ICIUM 2004 and to submit abstracts for consideration. Registration will be limited to 500 participants (a minimum of 30 participants per topic track), and those with an accepted abstract will be given preference. Persons submitting abstracts must identify the theme and topic track they consider most appropriate for their presentation. Registration fees, details and the abstract format
will be described on the ICIUM 2004 web site which will be up by the
1st December 2002. A limited number of scholarships covering registration
fees, travel, and hotel will be available to participants from poorer
countries who have abstracts accepted or who are key policy makers. - The International Network for the Rational
Use of Drugs (INRUD) Dr John Chalker |