WSSN Stories

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- NAVAL AIR STATION FALLON, NEV. — The Longhorn Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon conducted a night rescue at Black Wall near Donner Summit on Thursday, extracting and airlifting an injured rock climber.

“The survivor had been rock climbing on a very steep cliff face when he sustained his injuries,” said the crew chief, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Glende, from Spencerport, New York. “The terrain did not afford any opportunity to land, and we quickly understood why the ground rescue crew had called the Longhorns for this kind of mission.”

After local fire and rescue personnel arrived on scene to stabilize the climber, who had multiple facial and arm lacerations as well as injuries to his back, the ground rescue team determined the cliff was too steep to carry him safely down to the ambulance in a rescue litter. At 11:00 p.m., the ground team requested helicopter extraction of the patient, and the Longhorn SAR duty crew was recalled to launch for the life-saving mission.

“The Longhorn SAR team consistently trains to accomplish these exact kinds of rescues,” said Lt. Cary Lawson, the SAR mission commander and Loma Linda, California, native. “Our crew was conducting training for situations just like this on the very night we got the call. Our main concern was to arrive on scene as quickly as we could and get the survivor to much-needed medical attention without delay.”

A crew of five departed Fallon at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday for the 97-mile transit to the victim’s location. After arriving on scene, the crew quickly spotted the climber’s location due to flashing lights and radio communication with the ground rescuers. On the ground was the Truckee Fire Protection District and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Ropes Team who were able to free the climber suspended by his ropes 200 feet above the ground. No landing site was available due to the sheer steepness of the mountainous terrain.

Hovering 10 feet from the cliffside, the Longhorns deployed a helicopter inland rescue aircrewman (HIRA), Petty Officer 1st Class Kyle Kurzendoerfer, from Arlington, Texas, via a 200-foot rappel to the survivor’s location at 12:40 a.m. While the helicopter circled, the HIRA performed an expedited medical assessment of the survivor with the ground personnel and prepared the climber for a hoist extraction. The helicopter returned to extract the victim and Kurzendoerfer together via hoist from a 150-foot hover.

“Our crew performed exceptionally tonight,” Kurzendoerfer said. “Everything went incredibly smooth, from the transit to the turnover of the patient — and it was because the entire crew was well-trained and firing on all cylinders as an effective team.”

With the patient and HIRA safely onboard the aircraft at 12:54 a.m., the crew provided in-flight care —with the assistance of aeromedical flight surgeon Cmdr. Chris Joas, from Centennial, Colorado, onboard — during the 31-mile transit to Renown Regional Medical Center. The aircraft was given priority handling from Reno Tower and landed in the grass at Pickett Park across the street from the hospital at 1:09 a.m. The patient was turned over to Renown emergency room staff at 1:15 a.m.

“The hospital staff was very professional. They were ready and waiting with all hands on deck for the survivor when we arrived, leading to no delays in patient care,” Joas said.

The crew consisted of Lawson, copilot Lt. Drew Bilton-Smith, from Boise, Idaho, Kurzendoerfer, Glende, and Joas.

NAS Fallon received a request for immediate life-saving response with military aircraft from the California Office of Emergency Service (CALOES) via the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC); the California Office had received a 911 call about an injured rock climber on Donner Summit.

This rescue, which required expert skill in helicopter mountain rescue techniques, was the second rescue of 2019 for NAS Fallon SAR and the 18th in the last five years. This Navy SAR unit operates three MH-60S helicopters as search and rescue/medical evacuation platforms for the Fallon Range Training Complex in Nevada.

Pursuant to the National SAR Plan of the United States, the unit may also be used for civil SAR/MEDEVAC needs to the fullest extent practicable on a non-interference basis with primary military duties according to applicable national directives, plans, guidelines and agreements.  Specifically, the Longhorn SAR team may launch in response to tasking by the AFRCC for inland missions, or in response to tasking by the NAS Fallon commanding officer for all other aeronautical and maritime regions when other assets are unavailable.

By Lou Yeboah

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— Because you see every time we encounter the Word of God, an unseen world of spiritual forces go to work. We don’t usually think about this, since our experience—for instance, reading the Bible —feels so patently mundane. But read Jesus’ first parable in Matthew 13 and you’ll gain a renewed sense of weightiness for the moment when your life and God’s Word intersect.

I tell you, God’s Words are powerful. It took just a handful of them to create the entire known universe. If those Words are taking root in you, that same power will be at work in your life. But naw, you rather search Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, My Space, Linked-In and a whole slew of other social networking websites. “These social networks were originally created to give people a means to communicate and stay connected with others.  But what started out as a novelty has now turned into a serious addiction for many. These electronic tools that are supposed to help us stay connected have actually caused us to become more disconnected than ever before. If you don’t believe me, look around the room at your next family gathering or at the next social event you go to, and take notice of how many people are staring at their SmartPhones or Tablet screens, totally disconnected from everything that is going on around them. This addiction has even created a whole new problem in our Churches . Many are now looking at their SmartPhones instead of the Scriptures during the worship services.   They are tuning into their social media messages and tuning out the message from God’s Word.” I tell you, “Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.”

Listen, God’s Word is the foundation of our lives. The Christian life, from start to finish, is utterly dependent on the grace of God. Not only do we come into spiritual life by sheer grace, but it is in divine grace that we continue on. It is by God’s grace that our soul survives through many trials, is strengthened for everyday life, and grows into greater maturity and health. I tell you, you can either follow the counsel of the world or the counsel of the Word. But Psalm 1 tells us that we should make God’s Word our delight and meditate on it consistently – day and night. I pray that through the teaching of this message today that if you are not regularly reading and studying the Word of God you will began to make God’s Word a regular diet for your life.

For He says, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he was sowing some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much soil, and they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withereed. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them. Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown. He who has an ear, let him hear [Matthew 13:3-9].  And as you read through this, think about which type of soil you relate to and how receptive you are to hearing the truth of the gospel. For I tell you, “Everything else will pass away, [Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the like ] “but the Word of God stands forever” [Isaiah. 40:8].

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on

his law he meditates day and night. – [Psalm 1:1-2]

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” – [Jeremiah 15:16]

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- LOS ANGELES, CA—- Music licensing and publishing company, SyncStories, names industry veteran Cassie Lord as President and Managing Partner where she will help oversee worldwide licensing and publishing operations.

The group’s recent deals include licensing music for the “Avengers: Endgame”, “Vans Skateboards”, and “Survivor” among others.

Over a 30-year span, Lord spearheaded the formation of the Film & Television Music Divisions for APM Music, Zomba’s FirstCom, and 5 Alarm Music. She directed production, operations and accumulation of over 80 music libraries that can be heard on Hollywood’s top-rated major motion pictures and television shows including “Game Of Thrones“, “Stranger Things“, “X-Men“, “Breaking Bad“, “House Of Cards“, “Batman vs Superman“, “The Walking Dead” and advertisement campaigns for “Dodge“, “Old Navy“, and “Pepsi” to name a few.

As a highly sought after music industry executive, Cassie Lord also consulted to Thomas Dolby’s company “Beatnik” and worked with Nokia’s Digital Music Division. Her start was at BMI and was later part of the production team for the television series “Star Search”.  Cassie is also a proud board member of the Production Music Association.

After 17 years serving as President & Founder of 5 Alarm Music, Cassie Lord joins SyncStories, bringing along world-class production music libraries and expertise.

“I am the happiest as an independent and love the flexibility of being creative with all of my industry colleagues. This is a wonderful business and I’m very excited about this new adventure!” states Lord. Eric Vasquez (CEO) issued a joint statement: “Cassie is not only a dear friend and a business colleague, but she is also a respected leader in our community. As an organization, we are thrilled about our exciting path forward and the creative possibilities ahead.”

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About SyncStories

SyncStories is a one-stop music licensing and publishing company for TV, Film and Interactive Media. The organization merges first-rate indie touring artists, world class production music libraries, and custom music services. The SyncStories repertoire includes Messina Masters, created by Grammy winning composer Mateo Messina (“Juno”, “The Office”). Zero3 Music by 4 time BMI award winning composer and producer, Doug Bossi. Trailer library “Dig It Music”, and Cue Source Music created by Charlie Brissette who is best known for “The Ren & Stimpy Show”. Worldwide touring artists include EDM Dj & producer Dirt Monkey, The Adolescents, Veronica Fusaro and a specialty collection of early 1980’s classic punk rock.

By Tanya A. Christian 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—-ENN)—- Pete Buttigieg has a plan to encourage Black entrepreneurship and he’s named it after two of the most recognized self-made business owners, Madam C.J. Walker and Reginald F. Lewis. The 2020 hopeful unveiled his proposal on Sunday during an address at the 2019 Essence Festival.

“Let’s talk about economic empowerment,” Buttigieg said to the thousands gathered in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and streaming live on Facebook. “Women of color account for nearly half of all women-owned businesses — $386 billion dollars of annual revenue. Which means that we should continue lifting up women of color and Black-owned enterprises not just with our words, but with our dollars.”

In a private interview with ESSENCE, the current mayor of South Bend, Indiana, compared the Walker-Lewis plan to the Marshall plan that was put into action after the end of World War II and explained that it would close the economic wealth gap. Essentially that plan would allow those who qualified for Pell Grants an opportunity to have their student loan payments forgiven if they start a business and employ three people within five years.

Buttigieg projects that the financial incentive will help triple the number of entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds in 10 years. “We can do that, and we should,” he insisted. He also called for creating a $10 billion fund to invest in businesses that are started by minorities.

“This is what freedom looks like in the 21st Century,” Buttigieg said.

His plan comes on the heels of another economic initiative named after an African-American figurehead. In June the former military officer outlined his Douglass plan named after abolitionist Frederick Douglass. In an op-ed published ahead of his appearance at BET’s Black Economic Alliance, he said, “We want to increase the number of successful small businesses in Black communities by 50%, by reforming credit scoring, increasing access to credit, and supporting long-term growth.”

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SACRAMENTO, CA – Today the California Latino Legislative Caucus announced its endorsement of Abigail Rosales Medina in her campaign to win California’s 23rd Senate District, a Democratic pick-up opportunity in the 2020 election cycle.

 “Abigail Medina is a tireless advocate for her community and will be an important voice in the California Senate,”saidChairwoman of the Latino Caucus, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego). “The Latino Caucus is proud to endorse Abigail Medina’s run for the 23rd Senate seat, which could not only flip a red district to blue, it would also add to our caucus’ record-breaking number of Latina legislators.”

Abigail Rosales Medina is president of the San Bernardino City Unified School District and executive director of the Inland Regional Equality Network, which works to build a strong and inclusive LGBTQ+ community in the community She has served on the school board since 2013 and as its president since 2017. During that time, she helped move the 60 percent graduation rate up to 90 percent – exceeding state and county standards for the first time in over 40 years – while managing an annual budget. In 2016, she defied the odds by coming in first in the Assembly’s 40th District primary before ultimately finishing less than 2,000 votes behind the Republican incumbent.

The 23rd Senate District has little partisan lean (34.89% of registered voters listed as Democrats, 34.58% as Republicans and 24% as “no party preference”) and is currently represented by Republican State Senator Mike Morrell, who is terming out. It includes a wide arc of the Inland Empire, Rancho Cucamonga in the northwest to Menifee in the south, communities in the San Bernardino Mountains and a portion of the High Desert.

The California Latino Legislative Caucus serves as a forum for members from the State Senate and Assembly to identify key issues affecting Latinos and develop avenues to empower the Latino Community throughout California. Since its creation 46 years ago, the Caucus has grown in both numbers and stature. It boasts a rich history of legislative and political success and serves as one of the most influential and strategic organizations in California. The Caucus is currently comprised of 29 members, including 16 Latina members.

For questions or to schedule an interview with a member of the Latino Caucus, contact Sami Gallegos (209) 658-7617. 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – Many Americans enjoy do-it-yourself projects and some Americans make a living in construction. There’s a group of U.S. Navy sailors who apply the same creativity required for DIY endeavors along with the engineering discipline of construction, but with a unique twist. They work underwater. Around the world. In some of the most challenging conditions imaginable including hostile environments, extreme heat or cold, or in remote locations where the only support and supplies they have are the ones they brought with them. 

Petty Officer 1st Class Ashley Pritchett, a 2006 Franklin High School graduate and native of Hesperia, California, is one of these sailors serving at Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 1, which is responsible for underwater construction, inspection, repair and demolition operations supporting both peacetime and wartime missions. 

As a Navy equipment operator, Pritchett is responsible for driving heavy equipment. 

“I move dirt, haul dirt and play in dirt,” said Pritchett.

Pritchett credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned growing up in Hesperia. 

“I learned to have good morals and keep doing what you’re passionate about,” said Pritchett. 

A key element of the Navy the Nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, according to Navy officials, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea. 

“The sailors who serve as part of the Navy’s Underwater Construction Teams possess a very specialized skill set,” said Lt. Cmdr. James Johncock, UCT-1’s commanding officer. “The work they do is crucial to providing freedom of the seas in both peacetime and wartime. It’s an honor to lead these sailors and I continue to be inspired every day by their commitment to being the absolute best at what they do. The physical and technical abilities underwater construction technicians demonstrate make them some of the most highly trained sailors in the Navy.” 

Pritchett is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy. 

“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.” 

Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community and career, Pritchett is most proud of being promoting to the rank of petty officer first class. 

“The Navy is my dream job,” said Pritchett. “Being able to accomplish this was meaningful to me.” 

Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Pritchett, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Pritchett is honored to carry on that family tradition. 

“My grandfather served in the Navy,” said Pritchett. 

As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Pritchett and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs. 

“Joining the Navy is what I have always wanted to do and I feel very passionate about it,” said Pritchett. “Defending freedom is a huge deal to me.” 

By John Coleman

The Foundation for African Medicine and Education/Advanced Medical Care for Underserved Communities in Tanzania event was held on April 16 in the Genomics Building on the campus of UC Riverside. 

The presentation by Dr. Artress and Susan Gustafson was followed by a Q&A session proceeded by a reception with the program participants and other ‘invitees’.

By Lou Yeboah

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— Oration delivered by abolitionist Frederick Douglass in Rochester, N.Y. on July 5, 1852, entitled “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro”.

“Fellow-citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here to-day? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. —The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony. Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day? What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelly to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy—a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages… For black men there are neither law, justice, humanity, not religion.” [Frederick Douglass]

“One hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand’s of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children. It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges…. And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true…” [Martin Luther King Jr].

“Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented of the state of the nation, I do not despair of this country. There are forces in operation, which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery. “The arm of the Lord is not shortened,” and the doom of slavery is certain. I, therefore, leave off where I began, with hope [Frederick Douglass].

“True Freedom is yours Forever in Christ!”

“Free At Last, Free At Last, Thank God Almighty I’m Free At Last!” [Martin Luther King Jr.]

By Aldon Stiles |California Black Media

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— Only four percent of California’s African American voters are registered as Republicans, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. The majority, about seventy seven percent, are members of the Democratic Party.

Johnnie Morgan, 68, the newly elected president of the California Republican Assembly (CRA), wants to change those numbers. So he’s pushing a message to attract African-American Democrats and Independents to his party by highlighting ways the party’s platform aligns with who they are and the things they care about.

“African Americans place a high value on family as does the Republican Party,” said Morgan, who was sworn into his new position on June 19 during the CRA’s statewide convention in Sacramento.

Morgan, who ran for the position unopposed with the full support of his organization, will serve a three-year term.

“African Americans have a history of being inventors and businesspeople involved in entrepreneurial enterprises,” he said.  “The Republican Party has a focus on free enterprise and economic development.”

The CRA is a conservative activist group that helps Republican candidates it endorses get elected, supporting them with money, volunteers and other resources. Officially chartered by the California Republican Party, the CRA was formed in the 1933 and was praised by Ronald Reagan as the “the conscience of the Republican Party,” according to the CRA official website.

The group, which is the largest and oldest independent Republican organization in the state, played a key role in helping Reagan win California’s gubernatorial race in 1966.

According to Morgan, the CRA implements community engagement programs and voter registration conventions to help expand the membership of the Republican Party and support the party’s goals.

Morgan becomes the head of the CRA at a time when the California COP is making a deliberate effort to attract more members in a state that is heavily Democrat. About 43 percent of California’s voters are registered Democrats. Only 28 percent are Republican. Democrats hold supermajorities in both houses of the state legislature. In the senate, Democrats outnumber Republicans 29 to 11. And in the Assembly, the ratio is 61 to 18.

In national elections, California has not voted for a Republican president since George H.W. Bush in 1987.

In February this year, the California Republican Party elected Jessica Patterson as its first Latina and female president with 54.6 percent of the vote.

“Today we are starting the next chapter of our party history,” Patterson said in her acceptance speech. “We’re going to be about one thing: winning. We’re going to take the fight to Democrats. We’re going to fight them in the precincts and we’re going to beat them in elections.”

At the same convention, Republican delegates from around the state elected Peter Kuo, an immigrant from Taiwan to be its vice chairman and a gay man, Greg Gangrud, as its treasurer.

Morgan has been an active member of the Republican Party for 35 years, four of which he spent as National Committeeman for the CRA. He has also served as a California delegate to the last eight Republican National conventions.

“I am excited by the opportunity to lead this superb organization, to bring good conservative government to California and grow our membership,” he said.

Morgan says he intends to showcase a more inclusive organization to offset the common perception that conservative ideals run counter to the needs of African-American communities in California.

“I plan to expand membership, increase the diversity of membership, and become more integral to the party in a more physical and active capacity,” he said.

The low number of Black Californians who join or support the Republican Party in California, Morgan says, results from a fundamental miscommunication between the state GOP and the African-American community. He believes that getting the word out about how his party’s policies align with the interests and principles of African Americans will be a game changer.

He cites religion, for example, as one way to find common ground.

“Both the Republican Party and the traditional African-American family value the church and its role in the community as it relates to freedom of religion,” Morgan said. “We need to let them know that we are a place for [African Americans] to come to for support of our communities.”

A Los Angeles native and Pepperdine University graduate, Morgan has deep roots in both California and his party. He serves as the National Association of Republican Assemblies Western Region Vice President and is also a delegate to the California Republican Party.

“I absolutely feel that [the CRA] has my back now just as they have had my back throughout much of my career,” Morgan said.“Not only do I want to expand our diversity but also better engage at the national level, state level and local level.”

Morgan hopes his presidency can operate as an inspiration and example for Black voters in California as well.

“I encourage more African Americans to take a hard look at the Republican Party,” Morgan said. “My presence should indicate that there is opportunity in the party for inclusion and leadership.”

By Rachel Silverman and Amanda Glassman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— Healthy competition from generic drugs is often held up as a “cure” for high drug prices — a shared concern across rich and developing countries alike. For many low- and middle-income countries, however, a new report from the Center for Global Development that we co-authored shows that global markets for generic medicines are failing, leaving the poorest patients without safe and affordable essential medicines.

The first point of failure is drug quality. In wealthy countries, residents can usually trust that all drugs on pharmacy shelves are safe, authentic, and potent. Most families and doctors are happy to opt for quality-assured generics that have been tested for bioequivalence, systematically monitored for adverse events, subject to regular inspection for manufacturing quality, and priced well below their branded competitors. As we describe in the report, in the United States and the United Kingdom, for example, non-branded generic drugs account for more than 80% of all pharmaceutical consumption by volume (and roughly 30% by value).

In poor countries, by contrast, regulatory and quality control systems are often ill-equipped and under-resourced to ensure medicine quality, which can allow low-quality or fraudulent drugs to infiltrate the market. In her new book, “Bottle of Lies,”Katherine Eban highlights manufacturing shortcuts and fraud among Indian and Chinese manufacturers that endanger the quality of the global supply of generic drugs. And these challenges are shared across low- and middle-income countries, including emerging economies like Indonesia and Nigeria.

So when a Nigerian woman goes to the pharmacy, she’s rightfully suspicious about whether unfamiliar “no-name” pills work safely. Instead, she looks for other signals of medicine quality. Most likely, she’ll settle on a familiar brand name, usually sold at a substantial price premium. This is a similar story for many people living in the poorest countries where unbranded generics represent just 5% of all medicine consumption. Most health workers and patients there instead opt for familiar brands that (they hope) signal higher quality.

The second point of failure is limited competition. Entering new markets is costly and time consuming for generic manufacturers. For each new generic, each country needs to review and approve a product dossier, a procedure filled with bureaucratic red tape. That means under-resourced regulatory agencies spend much of their time and energy on registering new products, leaving little capacity to inspect them and ensure quality once they hit the market. When market entry is difficult or where government policies restrict purchasing to local manufacturers or middlemen, a single seller can capture 85% or more of the market for entire therapy classes such as contraceptives in Senegal, diabetes medicines in Zambia, or anti-parasitics in South Africa.

Healthy generic competition can help keep medicine prices in check. In the U.S., the entry of additional generic competitors helps push down prices: by 6% after the first entrant, 48% after a second entrant, and up to 95% by the time a 19th generic manufacturer enters the market. In some large emerging economies, generic competition is thriving, and prices are low. But in many smaller low- and middle-income countries, where competition is limited and prices are marked up before they reach consumers, patients can face highly inflated prices: up to 30 times more than a minimum international reference price for basic generic medicines, our report shows.

While some experts tout increased price transparency as an answer to these failures, easing market entry and promoting competition through strategic, effective procurement is a better way forward. The World Health Organization and country governments need to focus on enhancing competition and creating an enabling and adequate policy environment for quality generics competition.

The WHO has already set up a “Collaborative Registration Procedure” to help reduce the costs of market entry of quality-assured generic products into small low- and middle-income countries. Next, the WHO should fully fund, expand, and endorse this process so it can become the norm for relatively small markets.

Country governments, for their part, should ease legal and/or regulatory barriers, such as country-specific labeling requirements, to expedited registration and jump on board a collaborative global or regional registration process. By streamlining national registration processes, they can also reallocate regulatory resources to helping catch and remove fake or tainted drugs from the pharmacy pipeline.

Policies for how countries select and procure products also require reexamination to boost competition and improve access to medicines. Policies that require purchase of nationally manufactured products can inhibit market entry and prevent efforts to pool procurement across countries, creating missed opportunities for savings. Some countries want to expand local manufacturing as a solution, but local monopolies and potential conflicts of interest can keep prices high. Corruption in the procurement of medicines also represents a major challenge. Understanding the scale of the problems in each country and designing bespoke reforms should be a priority for partnerships between the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund and national governments.

Patients around the world are being harmed by failing global markets for generic drugs. With leadership from the WHO and national governments, countries can take a big step in the right direction to close this gap, which severely affects the world’s poor.

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Rachel Silverman is a policy fellow at the Center for Global Development. Amanda Glassman is the center’s executive vice president and CEO of Center for Global Development Europe.