Medical supplies in Red Cross and Red Crescent emergency operations

The Twenty-fifth International Conference of the Red Cross,

 aware that the physical and mental health of victims is affected by any emergency,

 recognizing that in relief operations health personnel must have the appropriate medicaments and medical supplies at their disposal when they are needed, in order to provide efficient assistance to victims,

 recalling that, especially in relief operations, medicaments and medical supplies may be dangerous if used by other than qualified health personnel,

 being anxious to avoid misuse of medicaments and to obtain the maximum results from relief operations with limited financial and manpower resources,

 1. recommends that each National Society and government wishing to participate in ICRC or League relief operations requiring medical relief supplies should limit their gifts to the needs identified by the ICRC or League in prior consultation with those organizations,

 2. recommends that any gift of medicaments or medical supplies to an ICRC or League relief operation should be in accordance with guidelines issued by the ICRC and the League, under the supervision of qualified health personnel and in conformity with the recipient country's drug policy, if any,

 3. recommends that National Societies and governments participating in Red Cross and Red Crescent relief operations should use the WHO Standard list of drugs and clinic equipment for League operations and the ICRC  Standard list of medicaments and medical material for ICRC operations,

 4. recommends that all medicaments and medical supplies provided through the ICRC or the League should be packed and labelled in accordance with the guidelines issued by the ICRC or the League, depending upon the character of the operation.