1. Access to Essential Medicines
selection, affordability, financing, supply systems
Richard Laing with materials produced by
Marthe M Everard
Policy, Access, and Rational Use (PAR)
Medicines Policy and Standards (PSM)
World Health Organization

2. Access to essential medicines - framework for coordinated action
1. Rational
selection
4. Reliable
health and
supply
systems
2. Affordable
prices
3. Sustainable
financing
ACCESS

3. Access to essential medicines - a framework for coordinated action (1)
1. Rational selection - define what is most needed
develop evidence-based treatment guidelines
define EML based on treatment guidelines
regularly update guidelines based on best evidence
use for supply, reimbursement, training
2. Affordable prices - promote competition & reduce costs
price information
generics policies
reduce duties, taxes, markups
differential pricing of new essential medicines
apply WTO/TRIPS safeguards as appropriate

4. Access to essential medicines - a framework for coordinated action (2)
3. Sustainable financing - increase sustainable funding
increase public funding
expand health insurance
better use of out-of-pocket spending
targeted external funding - grants, loans, donations
4. Reliable health & supply systems - ensure quality & availability
integrate medicines in health sector development
create efficient public-private-NGO mix
assure medicine quality
promote rational use of medicines

5. Disease patterns should guide medicine selection, supply management, use, training/supervision
Medicine development
Clinical guidelines, formularies
Essential
Medicines list
Choice of medicine
and non-drug
treatments
Training, supervision of health providers
Financing, prices, supply
management of medicines
Patient
Information, use of medicines

6. Response - One strategy across WHO
malaria
tuberculosis
other priority
health problems
HIV/AIDS
childhood
illness
Four strategic objectives
1. Access - selection, financing, pricing, reliable health and supply systems
2. Quality and safety - standards, effective drug regulation, information
3. Rational use - health professionals and consumers, public and private
4. National drug policy - framework for collective action