The assessment of the pharmaceutical sector in Ethiopia was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Health and conducted with the financial and technical assistance of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The project was centrally coordinated by Mr Alemayehu Lemma, head of Pharmacy Administration and Supply Service (PASS) of the MOH and Mr Bekele Tefera, National Professional Officer (NPO) for Essential Drugs and Medicines policy (EDM) program of WHO Ethiopia. Miss Hadas Adugna (expert, PASS) also served as co-coordinator and field supervisor. The first draft of the study report was written by Mr Bekele Tefera, NPO/EDM of WHO Ethiopia and was reviewed by a consensus building work shop conducted on 26 August 2003 G.C. This final report, also prepared by Mr Bekele Tefera, has incorporated the comments and suggestions given by the work shop participants and the other contributors mentioned below.

We would like to thank Mrs Simona Chorliet (WHO consultant) and Mr Marthin Authon (WHO consultant), who served as resource persons during the training of data collectors, supervisors and heads of Health Service and Training Departments of the six surveyed regions.

We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of Mrs Helen Tatah and Mrs Diane Whitney of WHO/Geneva as well as Mr Marthin Authon for reviewing and commenting on the first draft of the report. The over all technical guidance of Mrs Diane Whitney on the report writing and the special support of Mrs Helen Tata to the study deserve special mention.

Special thanks go to the following pharmacists and General Medical Practionres (GPs) who served as data collectors:

Mr Tesfaye W/Kidan (Pharmacist, Tigray), Dr Atakliti Tsegaye (GP, Tigray), Dr Abebe Tefera (GP,Amhara), Mr Wosagne Muluneh (Pharmacist, Amhara), Mr Shewarega Ejersa (Pharmacist, Oromiya), Dr Nuri Shikmal (GP,Oromiya), Miss Mihiret Tilahun (SNNPR), Dr. Daniel Gemechu (GP, SNNPR), Dr Musse Kassa (GP, Beishangul -Gumuz), Mr Mathewos Haileyesus (Pharmacist, Benishangul-Gumuz), Miss Hirut Debela (Pharmacist, Addis Ababa), and Dr Mohammed Gemechu (GP, Addis Ababa).

Many thanks go to the following professionals who served as supervisors in each survey region:

Mrs Sofanit Mengistu (Pharmacist, Tigray), Mr Gashaw Shiferaw (Pharmacist, Amhara), Mr Abdlumelik Ibro (Pharmacist, Oromiya), Mr mulugeta Asfaw (Pharmacist, SNNPR), Mr Haji Berisso (Pharmacist, Benishangul-Gumuz) and Mr Tamiru Yigletu (Druggist, Addis Ababa).

We would like to acknowledge with gratitude the contribution of all people who participated in the workshop representing the following institutions and associations:

Health Service and Training Departments as well as Pharmacy Teams of all the regional health bureaus; Health Service and Training Department of the Federal Ministry of Health; PHARMID, Essential Services for Health in Ethiopia, (ESHE); School of Pharmacy (Addis Ababa university); WHO; Health, Population and Nutrition (HPN) donor group; Ethiopian Pharmacy Association; Ethiopian Medical Association and Public Health Association.

Our gratitude is due to all the staff of all Public Health Care Facilities, Regional Drug Stores and Private Drug Retail Outlets surveyed for their time and effort in providing the necessary information.

Lastly, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr Sam Muzuki, medical officer for ICP/IMCI in the WHO country office, who proof-read the final draft report as well as to all those who assisted in one way or another to make the study a success.