DESIGNING AND DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING IMPLEMENTING

EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPSPARTNERSHIPS

María Inés Esquivel, M.D. María Inés Esquivel, M.D.

Ministry of Health - University of Ministry of Health - University of PanamáPanamá

PanamáPanamá

FACTSFACTS

• Country approach for the Country approach for the management of chemical management of chemical substances:substances:

– MINSA: Health policiesMINSA: Health policies

– MIDA: Agricultural development MIDA: Agricultural development policiespolicies

– ANAM: impacts on the environmentANAM: impacts on the environment

– FIRECORP: Responds chemical FIRECORP: Responds chemical eventsevents

– CUSTOMSCUSTOMS

PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES

• Each institution within its Each institution within its objectives has responsibilities objectives has responsibilities shared shared

• The action of one can not The action of one can not restrict objectives of othersrestrict objectives of others

– Sharing InformationSharing Information

– EmpathyEmpathy

– TransparencyTransparency

– ConfidenceConfidence

Goal: EQUAL HEALTH TO ALL

Designing and Designing and implementing implementing

effective partnershipseffective partnerships

MIDA-MINSAMIDA-MINSA• Partnership is a Partnership is a

mandate (Law) mandate (Law) PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES

• A goal that includes A goal that includes interests of many interests of many institutions.institutions.

• Team Work to reach Team Work to reach the same goalthe same goal

• Under which condition?: Under which condition?: Everybody must agree Everybody must agree with the program by with the program by consensus. consensus.

Goal: EQUAL HEALTH TO ALL

Working together:Working together:This kind of work attracts This kind of work attracts new partners:new partners:

• NGOs• National Government • Local Government • Industry

Example 1 – Inspections Example 1 – Inspections • Background Background

• Common inspectionsCommon inspections• Chemical storage conditionsChemical storage conditions• Verification of registration licensesVerification of registration licenses• Labelling of products Labelling of products

• ActorsActors• National Government National Government • Local Government Local Government • IndustryIndustry• Labor authoritiesLabor authorities

• OutcomeOutcome• Team work/ trust Team work/ trust • Improved safety in workplace and for consumersImproved safety in workplace and for consumers• Enforcement of legislationEnforcement of legislation

Example 2 – Training programs Example 2 – Training programs • BackgroundBackground

• Training Training • Good practices for pesticide useGood practices for pesticide use• Poisoning preventionPoisoning prevention• Alternatives to pesticides Alternatives to pesticides

• ActorsActors• IndustryIndustry• NGOsNGOs• Government Government • Consumers Consumers • Banana and coffee workers unions Banana and coffee workers unions

• Outcome Outcome • Increase in consciousness (right to know) about chemicalsIncrease in consciousness (right to know) about chemicals• Increased number of complaints, demands, actions to redress Increased number of complaints, demands, actions to redress

pollution pollution • Industry assumed their responsibility in law enforcement Industry assumed their responsibility in law enforcement

Example 3 – Legislative developments Example 3 – Legislative developments • Background Background

• DecreeDecree• Import controls for 600 chemicals Import controls for 600 chemicals • Ban all chemicals banned in at least 4 countries Ban all chemicals banned in at least 4 countries

• Actors Actors • Government – decided alone Government – decided alone • Industry – not involved Industry – not involved • NGOs – supporting government NGOs – supporting government

• Outcome Outcome • Court case (Industry)Court case (Industry)• Non enforcement of legislation Non enforcement of legislation • Lost trust and time Lost trust and time

• Lessons learnedLessons learned • Need to consult with stakeholders before taking a decision Need to consult with stakeholders before taking a decision • Need to assess all impacts for stakeholders Need to assess all impacts for stakeholders • Need to increase communication channels Need to increase communication channels

• GovernmentGovernment• Develop a risk communication strategy; Develop a risk communication strategy; • Increase capacity for cost benefit analysis based on sustainable Increase capacity for cost benefit analysis based on sustainable

developmentdevelopment

• IndustryIndustry• Create win-win situations to trigger industrial involvement with Create win-win situations to trigger industrial involvement with

the general interest.the general interest.

• NGOs and labor organizationsNGOs and labor organizations• strengthening capacities in specific topic of interest in Chemical strengthening capacities in specific topic of interest in Chemical

management; management; • involve these groups from everyday Chemical Substances involve these groups from everyday Chemical Substances

Management activities at the local level to involvement at the Management activities at the local level to involvement at the policy level. policy level.

Possible scenarios 1

Possible scenarios 2 – Partnerships with Possible scenarios 2 – Partnerships with university and other actors university and other actors

CUSTOMS

PTJ

PRIVATE SECTOR

NGOMEDUCA

MITRADEL

MIDA

ANAM

MINSA

UNIVERSITIES

ACADEMIA