PQM Medicines Regulatory Inspections Technical Assistance to the Liberian Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority

The technical assistance was led by Mr. Benjamin Kwame Botwe, a PQM Program Consultant, who conducted a two-week trip to Liberia from June 17 to June 30, 2012. The primary objective of the technical assistance was to strengthen the medicines regulatory inspection capacity of the LMHRA. Mr. Botwe's scope of work included training LMHRA and National Drug Service (NDS) staff on medicines regulatory inspections, providing technical assistance and direction on inspections and other regulatory activities, developing tools to assist the Managing Director in monitoring and evaluation of inspectorate activities, and assisting in the development and review of materials for public education and awareness. During the trip, Mr. Botwe met with Ambassador Clavenda Bright-Parker, the Chairperson and Acting Managing Director of the LMHRA, to discuss the scope of work and other assignments. The Acting Managing Director requested that Mr. Botwe assist in drafting a letter banning antimalarial monotherapies, developing an advertisement for a Managing Director, and training on inspection report writing. The ban on antimalarial monotherapies was a result of the findings from the PQM's medicine quality monitoring program, which focused on the quality of antimalarial medicines. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOH&SW) decided to ban the importation, sale, and use of artesunate monotherapies for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Liberia. Mr. Botwe prepared a draft letter for review, which was later signed by the Minister. The LMHRA was also included in the national budget of the Government of Liberia, and provisions were made for the payment of salaries and benefits of all staff, including a Managing Director. Mr. Botwe drafted an advertisement for the recruitment of a Managing Director, which was reviewed and approved. The advertisement was emailed to all pharmacists in Liberia. The technical assistance provided by Mr. Botwe and the PQM program aimed to strengthen the medicines regulatory inspection capacity of the LMHRA and support the development of effective medicine regulatory strategies. The program's efforts were focused on building local capacity in medicine quality assurance systems, increasing the supply of quality medicines to priority USAID health programs, and ensuring the quality and safety of medicines globally. The PQM program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is the successor of the Drug Quality and Information (DQI) program implemented by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). The program's goal is to provide technical assistance to developing countries to help build local capacity in medicine quality assurance systems and ensure the quality and safety of medicines globally. The technical assistance provided by Mr. Botwe and the PQM program was focused on the following key areas: * Strengthening medicines regulatory inspection capacity * Developing effective medicine regulatory strategies * Building local capacity in medicine quality assurance systems * Increasing the supply of quality medicines to priority USAID health programs * Ensuring the quality and safety of medicines globally The program's efforts were focused on supporting the development of effective medicine regulatory strategies and building local capacity in medicine quality assurance systems. The program's goal is to ensure the quality and safety of medicines globally and provide technical assistance to developing countries to help build local capacity in medicine quality assurance systems.