Programmes will be developed to provide for payment of prescription drugs through the National Hospital Insurance Fund, NSSF and/or private health insurance. The private and public sectors will promote a viable and sustainable medical insurance scheme as a mutual commitment to a comprehensive social welfare programme.

Alternatives to the current tariff (percent mark-up) system of compensating pharmacists/pharmaceutical technologists will be explored to find ways of making Pharmaceuticals more affordable.

To encourage cost awareness, all drug distributors and manufacturers will be required to provide their local wholesale price list to the Ministry of Health according to an established timetable. The Ministry will publish these official prices at least once yearly and more often as appropriate. In addition, a mechanism will be established to exchange information with other countries on prices of individual pharmaceutical products.

Generic prescribing and substitution as well as selective drug registration should also control the usual drug costs paid by patients.