The World Health Organization Collaborating Centre (WHO CC) for Governance, Accountability, and Transparency in the Pharmaceutical Sector was established in 2015 at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Led by Jillian Kohler, a recognized global expert on corruption and governance in the pharmaceutical system, along with Techinical Director Dierdre Dimancesco based at the WHO and supported by renowned scholars at the University of Toronto, Carelton University and the University of San Diego, this centre is charged with conducting research, analysis, and training on critical issues related to good governance and transparency in medicines.
Our objectives are:
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To use existing research facilities at the University of Toronto for research, policy analysis and training on issues related to the pharmaceutical component of health systems anti-corruption, transparency and accountability (ACTA) in collaboration with WHO.
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To support global dissemination of knowledge on the issues related to the pharmaceutical component of health systems ACTA.
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To support collaboration and help intensify work the work of the WHO in relation to the pharmaceutical component of health systems ACTA.
The WHO CC assembles leading governance and related experts who have created a collaborative network to support WHO policy and country operations on the global problem of corruption.
The WHO CC focuses on identifying practical ways to address a lack of good governance in the pharmaceutical system, which serves to create opportunities for corruption to emerge. This impacts all points of the pharmaceutical system from research and development to service delivery to government. It does this through implementing comprehensive research and training programs, which inform the programmatic work of the World Health Organization and governments.
Corruption is a well-known threat to development, economic growth and thwarts efforts to improve global access to medicines.