Essential Drugs Programme

The pharmaceutical industry dislikes the concept that some drugs may be classed as essential and therefore others, by implication, are deemed inessential. But the WHO programme has attracted much interest and approval (see WHO Technical Report Series The use of essential drugs current edition). 

Evaluation of these aftercare programmes has been promising and drop-out rates are low. Maybe even more than for those leaving drug treatment, support for drugusing prisoners on release is essential, both in order to avoid overdoses and to promote social integration. 

In short, in order to plan and analyse clinical trials effectively, cooperation between the statistician and the physician is essential. The earlier such cooperation begins (ideally when planning the drug development programme) the better the result for the company, for science and for future patients. 

While the prohlem of prices needs to he tackled for all essential and usefiil drug items, there are two class of products for which a special effort is needed. The one comprises new essential medicines as dehned as - important new medicines which represent a substantial advance in the treatment of major diseases yet which are still under patent and therefore expensive. The other class comprises vaccines, especially those used in national vaccination programmes. 

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