Publication: World Bank Pharmaceuticals
Date
2000-09
ISSN
Published
2000-09
Author(s)
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals have a major impact on
health, on government and household spending, and on health
systems. Despite the fundamental role of pharmaceuticals,
there remains a profound gap between the benefit which
pharmaceuticals have to offer and the reality that for
millions of people -- particularly poor and disadvantaged
people -- medicines are unavailable, unaffordable, unsafe or
improperly used. This World Bank Pharmaceuticals Discussion
Paper provides a pragmatic analysis of some of the causes
for this gap and strategic directions to help close this
gap. The strategic directions outlined in this
Pharmaceuticals Discussion Paper complement and reinforce
the objectives outlined in the WHO Medicines Strategy:
2000-2003 (World Health Organization, Geneva, 2000,
WHO/EDM/2000.1). The WHO strategy describes specific
objectives, expected outcomes, and progress indicators in
the areas of drug policy, access to essential drugs, quality
and safety, and rational use of medicines. Both the World
Bank and the WHO initiatives rest on a fundamental
commitment to work with governments, on governmental
organizations, the private sector, professional bodies, and
other key actors to help strengthen the pharmaceutical
sector and its ability to contribute to improved health
outcomes.. The current burden of disease falling on the two
billion people living on less than one dollar per day
undermines both individual well-being and collective
economic development. Much of this burden of disease can be
reduced by securing the availability, affordability, and
rational use of essential drugs of assured quality. Yet this
aim can not be achieved by governments alone, by individual
multilateral organizations working alone, or by any other
individual organization. It can only be achieved when
committed governments and local organizations are supported
by clear, consistency, and mutually compatible approaches by
agencies such as the World Bank, WHO, UNICEF, others in the
UN family, bilateral donors, and the broader development
community. This discussion paper provides an important
contribution to this process.
Citation
“Govindaraj, Ramesh; Reich, Michael R.; Cohen, Jillian C.. 2000. World Bank Pharmaceuticals. HNP discussion paper series;. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/13734 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”