National drug policies distribution

In line with reasons developed by Baker and Carapinha, Kinsley Wilson and colleagues also accept the premise that the state is primarily responsible for ensuring access to essential medicines. They suggest that countries should develop a National Drug Policy (NDP) and accompanying implementation plans. Countries need to establish adequate processes as far as the registration, selection, procurement, and distribution of drugs are concerned. 

The following sections follow the framework developed by Cohen, Cercone, and Macaya (2002) to discuss government responsibilities in facilitating a robust pharmaceutical system and access to essential medicines. The discussion begins with national drug policies, followed by responsibilities in registration, selection, procurement, distribution, and service delivery. The discussion concludes with policy considerations. 

These cases also provoked an investigation into FDA policies by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), a division of the National Academy of Sciences. Criticizing the absence of national reporting requirements, the IOM report suggested that hospitals receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funds should be required to report to the FDA.54 IOM members also proposed a National Center for Patient Safety that would review drugs on the market and distribute information to physicians and the public. 

On February 29,1996, retired Army general Barry McCaffrey was sworn in as President Clinton s new director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and was given the responsibility for overseeing counter-drug operations in Central and South American countries. Between 80 and 90% of the cocaine consumed in the United States at the time was either produced and/or distributed in Columbia, as well as some 60% of the heroin. His efforts have been only partly successful. 

---