Unit 2

• Key Components of National Drug Policy (NDP)

  • Selection of essential drugs
  • Affordability
  • Drug financing
  • Supply systems
  • Regulation and QA
  • Rational use
  • Research
  • Human Resource Development
  • Monitoring and Evaluation
• Objectives of National Drug Policy (NDP)

  • Access
  • Quality
  • Rational Use
  • Production
  • Regulation
  • Drug discovery and Innovation
• According to WHO, a definite health policy can achieve several things:
• Policy Framework of NDP

  • It expresses and prioritizes the medium- to long-term goals set by the government for the pharmaceutical sector and identifies the main strategies for attaining them
  • It provides a framework within which the activities of the pharmaceutical sector can be coordinated
  • It covers both the public and private sectors and involves all the main actors in the pharmaceutical field
• Health Policy: "Decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve healthcare goals within a society."
• Social and Administrative Requirements for Medicine Provision

  • Drug production
  • Drug distribution
  • Drug consumption
  • Provision of drug information
• Objectives of NDP

  • Access
  • Quality
  • Rational Use
  • Production
  • Regulation
  • Drug discovery and Innovation
• Philippine National Drug Policy: What is the goal of the NDP?
• NDP Goals

  • Access
  • Quality
  • Rational use
• The drug situation affects

  The way health services are regarded
• Implementation of an effective drug policy promotes confidence in and use of health services
• Use of essential drugs

  • Leads to better drug supply, more rational prescribing, and lower costs
• WHO has defined essential drugs as those that satisfy the needs of the majority of the population
• In many countries, a large proportion of healthcare spending is on drugs
• Essential drugs


  Those that satisfy the needs of the majority of the population and should be available at all times, in adequate amounts, in appropriate dosage forms, and at an affordable price
• How is an NDP created?

  1. The goals of the National Drug Policy should be consistent with broader health objectives

  2. Policy implementation should help achieve health objectives

  3. Must fit within the framework of a particular health care system, a national health policy, and possibly a program of health sector reform

  4. Health policy and the level of service provision in a country are important determinants of drug policy and define the range of choices and options
• Health care financing is closely related to drug financing


  It is difficult to implement a health policy without a drug policy
• Selection of essential drugs helps identify priorities for government involvement in the pharmaceutical sector
• Key components of National Drug Policy (NDP)

  • Selection of essential drugs
  • Affordability
  • Drug financing
  • Supply systems
  • Regulation and quality assurance
• Reduction of drug taxes, tariffs, and pricing policies contribute to drug affordability
• Promotion of competition through generic policies and good procurement practices helps with affordability of multi-source products
• Increased government funding for priority diseases and guidelines for drug donations are part of drug financing
• Commitment to measures to improve efficiency and reduce waste is essential for drug financing
• Price negotiations and competition strategies are important for single-source products
• Public-private mix in drug supply systems, good pharmaceutical procurement practices, and inventory control are important for supply systems
• Regulation and quality assurance are ensured by the drug regulatory authority (FDA) to maintain drug quality, safety, efficacy, and accuracy of product information
• Regulation of traditional and herbal medicines

  Is carried out
• Commitment to GMP, Inspection, and Law enforcement


  Is maintained
• The Food and Drug Administration - FDA


  Develops and implements legislation and regulations on pharmaceuticals to ensure quality, safety, and efficacy of drugs, and accuracy of product information
• Rational use means that patients receive medicines appropriate for their clinical needs, in doses that meet their individual requirements, for an adequate period of time, and at the lowest cost to them and their community
• The FDA and the DOH


  Have relations
• Need and potential for systems of adverse drug reaction monitoring

  Is recognized
• Development of evidence-based clinical guidelines

  As the basis for training, prescribing, drug utilization review, drug supply, and drug reimbursement
• Operational research in drug access, quality, and rational use

  Facilitates the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of different aspects of drug policy
• Strategies for implementing the NDP

  • Production
  • Distribution
  • Consumption
  • Provision of drug information
• Channel for private sector


  From manufacturers or importers to wholesalers and retailers
• First Philippine National Drug Policy

  1986
• Government shall establish inventory control system


  Manual and/or computerized in all government drug establishments
• Government ensure supply


  Drug purchase through bidding or donation of private/public sector
• • Cheaper Medicines Act
  • Food and Drug Administration Act

  2008