It is gratifying to announce and introduce the completed standard treatment guideline for district hospital level.

This 1st edition of the Standard treatment guideline is aimed at district hospital level of health care both public and private through out the country and will assist health care professionals in their treatment choices.

The standard treatment guideline is a commendable achievement to address the major health problems in our country and set the stage for ensuring equity in health care delivery, as well as providing for rational prescribing and dispensing. This guideline is developed with the framework of the essential drug program and it also serves as an effective way of containing cost of treatment for both patients and the health sector and should also be used as a training material for health care providers.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the technical task force expert groups and Institutions for their valuable input in the development of this important guideline.