Frequently asked questions on the joint application package for preventive chemotherapy (2022 Update)

Overview

The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its frequently asked questions (FAQ) on the “PC Joint Application Package” (JAP) in response to global stakeholder participation in a survey of outstanding questions from users about the JAP. The FAQ consolidate the new questions from neglected tropical disease (NTD) programme managers, pharmacists, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) officers, implementing partners, and pharmaceutical and financial donors, to provide a comprehensive list of responses.

The FAQ complement the Standard operating procedures for supply chain management of health products for neglected tropical diseases amenable to preventive chemotherapy, the accompanying OpenWHO training course and the JAP guidance. Further resources including the latest JAP (version 4) forms are downloadable from the WHO/NTD website. At this point, the JAP is used to request medicine and treatments for lymphatic filariasis (LF), onchocerciasis (ONCHO), schistosomiasis (SCH) and soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) only.

The goals of the survey and the expanded FAQ are to increase user understanding of the JAP, including how it is used, who reviews it, and the process and timing for WHO approval and delivery of medicines donated by pharmaceutical companies. Accurate and timely submission is crucial to ensure that donated treatments are available in the correct quantities for targeted populations and arrive on time for implementation of PC campaigns in countries where these diseases are endemic.

The FAQ are divided into five sections: general questions on the JAP; and specific questions on each of the four forms within the JAP, namely the Joint Request for Selected PC Medicines (JRSM), the PC Joint Reporting Form (JRF), the PC Epidemiological Data Reporting Form (EPIRF) and the Annual Work Plan (AWP).

Answers to each question raised were considered by members of the JAP Working Group, a subgroup of the NTD Supply Chain Forum, with participants from WHO, the United States Agency for International Development, The Task Force for Global Health and Merck KGaA.

Any questions not listed in this document can be submitted by email to pctdata@who.int. Answers should be provided within 1-2 working days. The team will update the FAQ periodically as the JAP is updated and more questions are submitted.