National Medicine Policies

The focus in National Medicine Policy is on supporting countries to engage in policy dialogue, policy development and analysis, preparation of implementation plans and ensuring the commitment of all stakeholders to national medicine and traditional medicine policies. Forty countries in the region have comprehensive national medicine policies; out of these countries, twenty one have developed implementation plans. Implementation of national medicine policies is supported through Essential Medicines Advisors in sixteen countries (http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/coordination/medicinesadvisers/en/index.html) and health system focal persons in some countries.

The Program collaborates with partners and stakeholders to strengthen human resource capacities; enhance implementation of national medicine policies and promote transparency and good governance in the pharmaceutical sector. Furthermore; providing support to countries to implement the global strategy and plan of action for public health, innovation and intellectual property. Information for the Pharmaceutical Sector is regularly collected and status of implementation of national medicine policies is monitored.