As a part of ongoing research on the
Poppy for Medicine initiative for Afghanistan, the
British pharmaceutical consulting firm Heathside Information Services Limited has
undertaken research on the economics of processing raw poppy materials into morphine
medicines in a small factory in Afghanistan. Based on the project model outlined in ICOS’s June 2007 publication
Poppy for Medicine, the resulting report is
available
here
As well as elaborating on the costs of producing morphine medicines in Afghanistan,
this Case Study provides details on the quantities of raw materials to be used and the
quantities of medicines to be produced in Poppy for Medicine projects, and the potential
economic impact of Poppy for Medicine projects on Afghan farming communities.
In addition, this Case Study examines the possibility of extending the
Poppy for
Medicine project model, and adapting the medicine factory accordingly, to add value to
other locally-produced agricultural commodities. In particular, this Case Study explores
the possible local manufacture of the malaria medicine Artemisinin in the local
medicine factories. The extended Appendice to this Case Study provide extensive
details of the economics of producing morphine in small local factories and is available
here
Full report in English (1,31 Mb, PDF)