Strengthening the Pharmaceutical Sector in Afghanistan: A Study Tour of the Afghan National Medicines Services Organization to Turkey

ANMSO is an umbrella organization representing Afghanistan's importers and manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies and equipment. The organization aims to strengthen the capacity of its members to drive greater access to high-quality medicines and medical supplies for Afghanistan's citizens. ANMSO received technical assistance from the USAID-funded Health Policy Project (HPP) to strengthen its systems and become more financially self-sustainable. As part of this effort, HPP organized a five-day study tour to Turkey for seven ANMSO representatives and the Afghan government's General Director of Pharmaceutical Affairs. The tour was designed to help ANMSO gain a better understanding of how the Turkish Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association (IEIS) operates, including its roles, responsibilities, and internal processes and structures. During the tour, participants learned about IEIS's strategies for financial sustainability and for creating "value" in membership. They also gained insights into how policy reforms could strengthen Afghanistan's pharmaceutical sector, including altering tax structures to increase local production of medicines and supplies. The participants also learned about Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers' expansion of their markets through contract manufacturing and adherence to new international accreditation and certification standards. The study tour had a significant impact on ANMSO, with participants disseminating information gained during the tour and engaging in advocacy for tax reform. ANMSO has issued a membership newsletter on the tour and shared material with partners such as the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce. The organization is in the process of re-assessing its governance and membership dues structure based on IEIS's successes and is sharing information about market expansion strategies with its members. The General Director of Pharmaceutical Affairs (GDPA) is mobilizing support for new tax policies that would lower import taxes on raw materials to encourage local production. The GDPA and ANMSO have provided information about pricing and taxation issues to different commissions within the Afghan government as well as to the private sector. The study tour has helped inspire ANMSO and the GDPA to continue their education by participating in a Good Manufacturing Practices seminar held by another nongovernmental organization. The Afghan health sector is a critical building block for the country's recovery and development, with annual expenditures of US$1.5 billion. However, the sector is constrained by weak laws, policies, and other factors limiting its growth and hindering the quality of medicines and supplies. Strengthening the pharmaceutical sector in Afghanistan is essential to improving access to high-quality medicines and medical supplies for the country's citizens.