Navigating the Generosity of Medicines (Gen-MED)

Project Synopsis

The premise of Gen-MED is that good intentions do not necessarily result in good medication donations.

The Navigating the Generosity of Medicines (Gen-MED) project investigates the global challenge of inappropriate medicine donations through an interdisciplinary, systems-based approach. The project examines the motivations, practices, relationships, and consequences associated with pharmaceutical donations to better understand why inappropriate donations occur, how they affect recipient communities, and what can be done to prevent their unintended negative consequences.

Using stakeholder analysis and social network analysis, the initial research focuses on Japan to identify key organizations involved in medication donations, characterize their interests and influence, and map the relationships and collaborations that shape donation practices. Building on this work, the project aims to develop a broader international understanding of medication donation systems across different healthcare and humanitarian contexts.

Ultimately, Gen-MED seeks to generate evidence and identify opportunities to strengthen coordination, promote responsible donation practices, and reduce inappropriate pharmaceutical donations, particularly to resource-limited settings. By understanding the complex systems behind the generosity of medicines, the project aims to ensure that pharmaceutical donations provide meaningful benefits without creating additional health, environmental, or resource-related burdens.

Research Team

Principal Investigator:

  • Kaitlyn Watson, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta

International Collaborators:

  • Svenja Adolphs, University of Nottingham
  • Naoko Arakawa, University of Nottingham
  • Peter Babigumira, University College of Health Sciences, Uganda
  • Stany Banzimana, EAC Regional Centre of Excellence for Vaccines, Immunisation and Health Supply Chain Management
  • John Brownstein, Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital
  • Lucas Ercolan, Independent Consultant
  • James Goulding, N/LAB
  • Tetsumi Irie, Kumamoto University
  • Eiko Kobayashi, Red Cross Japan
  • Virginia Murray, UK Health Security Agency
  • Lydia Niemi, University of the Highlands and Islands
  • Obinna Onwujekwe, University of Nigeria
  • Sanya Ram, University of Auckland
  • Victoria Rutter, Commonwealth Pharmacists Association
  • Kayoko Takeda, Hokkaido University of Science
  • Tracey Thornley, University of Nottingham
  • Li Shean Toh, University of Nottingham

Canadian Collaborators:

  • Raini Aquino, Health Partners International of Canada
  • Oksana Babenko, University of Alberta
  • David Fisman, University of Toronto
  • Jillian Kohler, University of Toronto and WHO Collaborating Centre for Governance, Accountability and Transparency in the Pharmaceutical Sector
  • Joel Lexchin, University of Toronto
  • Derek MacFadden, University of Ottawa
  • Shellyza Moledina Sajwani, Pharmacists without Borders and Canadian Association of Pharmacy for the Environment