1. Richard Laing WHO/PAU TBS 2013
National Medicines Policies Process, World Medicines Situation Report and Access to Medicines Index
Richard Laing
WHO/PAU
TBS 2013
Department of Essential Medicines & Health Products

2. Objectives Review the history of NMPs Discuss the background to NMP’s
List the Components of a NMP
Review actors involved in the NMP process
Discuss the Global Pharmaceutical Market
Discuss the Access to Medicines Index

3. History of National Drug Policies
1985 Nairobi Conference of Experts on rational Use of Drugs
1987 Working group of Experts to draft guidelines for NDP’s
1988 Guidelines for NDP’s released
1995 Expert Committee on NDPs met report issued
2002 New Guidelines published

4. Background to NMP’s
Need for common framework to coordinate many different actors in the pharmaceutical field:
These include regulators (quality, safety and efficacy), producers (local & international), users (prescribers & consumers), health planners & managers, health finance authorities and researchers.
Each have valid interests in the field which may be contradictory or supportive
Involves both public & private sectors

5. Components of a NMP Legislation, Regulation and Guidelines
Selection of Drugs
Supply (incl. procurement & production issues)
Quality Assurance
Rational Drug Use
Economic Strategies for Drugs
Monitoring & Evaluation of NMP’s
Research
Human Resources Development
Technical Cooperation among Countries

6. Overview of Components
Each component has a crucial part in the overall policy!
Emphasizing one component at the expense of others, weakens the entire policy
Many different actors are involved. Some are outside MoH, some outside government, some outside country
Means that NMP planners need to be aware, though not expert, in all areas!

7. Characteristics of a National Medicines Policy
Essential part of health policy, must fit within the framework of a particular health care system.
Goals should be consistent with broader health objectives
Health policy and the level of service provision in a particular country are important determinants of drug policy and define the range of choices and options.
Implementation of an effective drug policy promotes confidence in and use of health services.

8. The Global Pharmaceutical Market
Scale of Global market
By Value
By Volume
Generic market by Value

9. TPE (Millions US$)
Pop (000s)
Distribution of total pharmaceutical expenditures by income level 2005/06
$4,123 (0.5%)
$81,235 (9.9%)
782, (14.4%)
983, (18.0%)
$76,857 (9.3%)
577, (10.6%)
3,106,247 (57.0%)
$660,609 (80.3%)
Data Source NHA 2005/6

10. Source IMS Health 2008

11. Consumption by Volume 2000 2008 Country Income Group
Volume per capita (SU)
% of total
High (33)
895
58.2%
1024
55%
Upper Mid (16)
376
24.4%
513
27%
Lower Mid (15)
163
10.6%
202
11%
Low (3)
105
6.8%
140 8%
Total (67)
1539
100%
1878
Volume measured by IMS Health Standard Units

12. 2008 Generic Uptake after Patent Expiry in 2000
Data Source IMS Health 2009

13. The 2012 Access to Medicine Index was published in November 2012
See and 14

14. THANK YOU