Afghanistan National Medicines Policy 2014–2019

The policy is aligned with the Ministry of Public Health's commitment to enhancing the national health system. The policy's goal is to ensure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of essential medicines for the population. Key principles guiding the policy include good governance, regulation, and quality assurance. The policy emphasizes the importance of a well-regulated pharmaceutical market, with a focus on registration, control, and inspection of pharmaceutical products. The regulation of the pharmaceutical profession and services is also a priority, including the control of premises and providers, as well as specific quality assurance measures. The policy supports local manufacturing of medicines, with a focus on traditional medicines and production inspection. The selection of licensed and essential medicines is also a key aspect of the policy, with a focus on ensuring that only high-quality medicines are available to the public. The policy also emphasizes the importance of rational medicines use, including awareness, education, training, and rational medicine use. This includes information, rational prescribing, rational dispensing, medicines and therapeutics committees, and antimicrobial resistance. The policy also addresses medicines for new, emerging, and re-emerging diseases, with a focus on ensuring that the necessary medicines are available to address these public health threats. Affordability, financing, and pricing are also critical components of the policy, with a focus on sustainable financing, pricing structure, monitoring prices, and promoting the use of generics. The policy also addresses pharmaceutical waste disposal, with a focus on disposing of expired, damaged, falsified/counterfeit, or otherwise unwanted medicines and medical supplies. The policy also addresses global trade in pharmaceuticals and intellectual property rights, with a focus on developing appropriate legislation. Additionally, the policy emphasizes the importance of responsible advertising and promotion of medicines, as well as human resource development and pharmacy education. Implementation of the policy will involve a range of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Public Health, the General Directorate of Pharmaceutical Affairs, the Avicenna Pharmaceutical Institute, and other relevant government agencies, as well as the pharmaceutical industry and civil society organizations. The policy's success will depend on effective coordination and collaboration among these stakeholders, as well as a commitment to its principles and objectives.