Regional ART Policy Dialogue Report.pdf - SAfAIDS

Figure 12: RAPD discussion groups5. THE WAY FORWARDThe RAPD addressed three key questions:- How should the Region address the Human Resource Crisis?- Are Regional Drug Manufacturing and Procurement possible?- How can ART-related Funding and M&E Systems take a Regional Direction?The following proposals were generated by participants, in addition to recommendationsshared by representatives of the various sectors, who presented triggering perspectives earlierin the day. These are to be advocated at both national and regional level:- Standard remuneration in the region should be encouraged to reduce the movement ofhealth workers- Innovative remuneration schemes for health workers in rural areas is necessitated andgood practise should be drawn from other regions that have successfully engagedskilled staff in rural settings- Training of non health professional as treatment practioners needs adequateexploration, as it is community members are carrying the weight of “care”- Governments and cooperating partners should build on existing pharmaceuticalcompanies to manufacture ARVs- Harmonization of efforts to empower local authorities to be able to approve and registerdrugs and issuance of licenses, is critical- Government should lobby WHO (and other relevant Global forces) to minimize barriersthat the regions are facing, such as registration delays- Existing fora, such as the SADC summit, should be taken advantage of in anaggressive manner by ART activists and advocates, and their affiliateorganisations/groups- Establishment of a Regional strategic framework for the production, procurement anddistribution of ARVs is highly necessary, given the current dynamics of thedemographic and epidemic related facets of the region- Establishment of Regional Basket funding for ART is a vital area for exploration -Sources of regional funding for the region should therefore come from the following: Airtraffic levies; Trans-border Trade; SIN Taxation Tobacco, Alcohol and Carbon DioxideEmission; Traffic Offences; Border Toll Gates; and Investment levies for nonproductiveinvestments for intsance Chinese firms- Establishment and Strengthening of the specific Units of SADC to deal withimplementation monitoring and evaluation of a regional ART agenda18