“One thing is certain: When medicines aren’t available, people will die.”

So said Dennis Kibira at the Global Health Council event, “Civil Society: A Missing Link in Development”. As health policy and advocacy manager at HEPS – Uganda, Kibira has led Ugandan efforts in a multinational campaign to stop stock-outs across the region. A stock-out occurs when pharmacies run out of medicine on the shelf – supply does not meet demand. The average stock-out in Uganda in 2008 was 2.5 months each year. And less than 50% of public health facilities had a set of necessary medications.

How, then, to stop the stock-outs and save lives? On this question, Kibira echoed many of the event’s speakers: “If there has to be...