Publication: Pharmaceutical Reform : A Guide to Improving Performance and Equity
Date
2011-09-21
ISSN
Published
2011-09-21
Author(s)
Roberts, Marc J.
Reich, Michael R.
Abstract
This publication, which is based on the
unique methodology and tools developed for the World Bank
Institute/Harvard School of Public Health Flagship Course on
Health System Reform and Sustainable Financing, provides a
powerful set of resources to help policy makers better
navigate the complicated process of reforming pharmaceutical
systems. Its problem solving approach complements technical
resources and training curricula available on the discrete
elements of a pharmaceutical sector. The application of the
flagship approach to the pharmaceutical sector is both
useful and timely. Ensuring the availability of medicines
and the effective management of their procurement and
distribution is central to the drive to achieve coverage and
access to basic health care that is both universal and
financially sustainable. Together, the methodology and case
materials contained in this publication provide a rich
resource from which policy makers in developing countries
may draw to guide their efforts to meet these challenges.
This book is designed to help participants gain a better
understanding of all that goes on in the pharmaceutical
sector. As noted above, it uses the flagship framework that
we helped develop over the past decade. The essence of that
approach is not to try to tell policy makers in detail what
they should do. Rather it comprises a set of analytical
tools that are combined into an overall, structured
methodology for developing, adopting, and implementing
reform proposals. The flagship framework also includes a
comprehensive review of reform alternatives and a systematic
review of their strengths and weaknesses in various
situations. Throughout this book the authors have used the
flagship framework to structure our analysis of
pharmaceutical reform, continuously and explicitly applying
its methods and concepts to the pharmaceutical sector. With
a few minor exceptions, all the examples and all of the
reform options come directly from pharmaceutical reform
efforts around the world. The authors have also given
specific attention to issues in pharmaceutical policy
related to reproductive health.
Citation
“Roberts, Marc J.; Reich, Michael R.. 2011. Pharmaceutical Reform : A Guide to
Improving Performance and Equity. © World Bank. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/2353 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”