Civil society reflects on multi-stakeholder approach in MeTA Philippines

Posted on 18 September 2009

The Coalition for Health Advocacy and Transparency, or CHAT, a coalition of 25 civil society and political organisations, was formed on 20 January, 2009. Bound by a common advocacy, but recognising the independence and integrity of member‐organisations, the coalition is working with MeTA Philippines to improve access to medicines, promote transparency and accountability, and encourage sharing of information.

What are CHAT member’s experiences of working through a multi-stakeholder approach, both within CHAT and MeTA Philippines? Members reflected recently on the process.

One member said that the difference about working in a multi-stakeholder forum leads to… “a broader knowledge base. Each member organisation brings their own perspective and learns from the others’ experiences. Without CHAT, each member organisation seeks knowledge single-handedly. In CHAT, a menu of information is laid out like ‘bounty on a feast table’ without having to hunt about for information. Opportunities are speedily laid out.”

“The multi-stakeholder approach means there is a leveraged position. With different stakeholders uniting on an issue, the position becomes a solid and significant voice,” the CHAT member continued.

Another stakeholder stated; “In a multi‐stakeholder group, there is need for patience and respect for contrary opinions. Listening to others' opinions is mandatory if one is honest and sincere in producing a more sensible and workable solution to certain problems.”

This opinion was echoed by another member; “The difference in working with multi-stakeholders is you have to respect each other’s opinion. Most often this is difficult for an NGO whose members are very passionate in their advocacy, very frank in opinion and hard‐line in approach, especially if the group is composed of extremes and middle groups.”

The benefits of participation are evident, both within organisations and externally.

“In our organisation we are using CHAT as an opportunity for continuing education with our governing board and management team. Knowledge exchanged and shared in CHAT helps our managers understand the dynamics of the medicines industry environment, especially opportunities and threats," One member said. "Externally, CHAT is able to put forward its members’ agenda to policy makers through position papers, to the industry representing a market segment and to legislators through CHAT’s participation in dialogue and legislative hearings. Networking and information sharing is important to us as well as making position papers on relevant topics.”

Another member mentioned the benefits of new networks. “We open up new networks and develop new friends in the course of our health advocacy. We have CHAT Google-groups, an internal discussion group for leaders of CHAT member‐NGOs, which provide an excellent medium for exchange of ideas, announcements and getting quick feedback for certain points that need action.”

Members also recognise the challenges of working in a multi-stakeholder way, especially when opinions on particular issues are very strong and polarised.  One member said; “It is difficult to work when there are opposing camps and you cannot find the middle ground. In MeTA I think that influencing and reforms can be achieved as long as the groups can unite.”

Some of the opportunities that have opened up to CHAT as part of MeTA Philippines so far are:

1. Lobbying for the passage of a legislation to bring down prices of medicines in the country;
   
   
2. Drafting position papers for issues that speed up or delay the implementation of this law;
   
   
3. Access to other political activities such as the lobbying for the passage of another bill on access to information, and
   
   
4. Access to workshops, dialogues and conferences.

In January 2010, the third MeTA Philippines Forum will mark another milestone, as MeTA continues to push for transparency and accountability in all medicines‐related transactions in a country plagued by very high medicines prices. Since its inception in 2007, two laws addressing the pharmaceutical sector have seen the light of day. The first, Republic Act 9502 or the Cheaper Medicines Act, passed in 2008, seeks to strengthen the use and manufacture of generic drugs. The second, Republic Act 9711 or the Food and Drugs Administration Act of 2009, aims to boost both technical and administrative capacity of the drug regulatory body. The passage of these laws opens up new challenges for MeTA Philippines as it engages multi‐stakeholders in processes that involve pharmaceutical policy, good governance, medicines supply management, regulation, capacity‐building, financing, promotions and advertising. All this aims towards achieving access to good quality, affordable medicines in the Philippines, a country where 52 per cent of families consider themselves poor.

MeTA Philippines relies on multi‐stakeholder consultation, an approach that works towards achieving consensus‐building between representatives from the public, private and civil society sectors. Conflicts do arise and successful multi-stakeholder interaction requires well‐honed negotiation skills. MeTA, through its diverse membership, finds itself well‐placed to coordinate activities that aim to find solutions for the common good.