E-DRUG: Newest ketamine fact sheet with 80 endorsements
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Dear all,
This is to inform you that the latest version of the Fact Sheet on
ketamine scheduling is available. Finally we reached the number of 80
endorsements. All three language versions with logos/names are
available for downloading at
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sg29d5lltqe5g9d/AAAqGRCiPfNtF9iE15UtZAWxa?dl=0
Make sure that this newest version is uploaded on your
websites and that it is used in your advocacy efforts!
Please note that due to a misunderstanding, the filing of endorsements
continued after the deadline of 26 February. I included the
considerable number of endorsements which I received during the last
few days. However, I will not be able to include any further
endorsements. Therefore, please do not request any others to send
endorsements to me.
As mentioned before, it seems that placing ketamine in Schedule I is
not an option anymore, and therefore it is likely that China will
propose a compromise to put ketamine in Schedule III (or maybe IV).
It is up to us to convince the other countries that also this is
unacceptable. Also these two lighter schedules will be a barrier for
access to ketamine.
We are making progress, because a number of
countries announced to vote against any scheduling or abstain. This is
what we need from the countries being a CND Member and therefore, we
are going in the right direction. However, we are not there yet. We
need more votes against and with your help, it is possible to prevent
that the scheduling proposal will have the required two-thirds
majority.
This means for us that, in order to be successful, we need
18 countries voting against, abstaining (or being absent). Therefore,
we need to go on and mobilize as many country delegations as possible
against the scheduling of ketamine. Please act quickly: time is short
and delegations will depart to Vienna already this weekend.
Possible actions that can be considered to be effective is making a
phone call, having an appointment in person or writing a formal letter
(sent by e-mail) to the Ministry of Health and/or the drug control
authority in your country. Just an e-mail of a few lines may not be
enough.
At the moment our priorities are the following countries:
� In Europe: Croatia, Poland, Spain;
� In Asia: India, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea;
� In Africa: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Namibia, Nigeria, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania;
� In North-America: Canada, United States;
� In Latin-America: Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Colombia,
Cuba, Guatemala, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Uruguay
(the underlined being the most urgent);
� In the Pacific: Australia.
On many countries we do not have any information where they stand now,
so you may want to verify this for your own country, if it is a CND
Member. (
And please let me know at wk.scholten@xs4all.nl
if you have any new information.)
Because we have now additional information and arguments, I drafted an
Extended Fact Sheet. It is important to include the arguments from
this Extended Fact Sheet in your advocacy, because they address many
counter-arguments brought up by the drug controllers.
Best regards,
Willem Scholten
Willem Scholten PharmD MPA
Consultant - Medicines and Controlled Substances
Wielsekade 64
3411 AD Lopik, the Netherlands
T: +31 348 769 029
M: +31 6 4847 3368
wk.scholten@xs4all.nl
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