Goal: to establish and maintain a distribution system which ensures equity of access to, and the constant availability of, required essential drugs throughout the country.

Objectives:

1. To increase the capacity (eg. human resources, logistics, information) of the drug distribution system to provide reliable and efficient distribution services

2. To ensure the establishment of and adherence to good distribution practices

3. To ensure equitable distribution (and re-distribution where necessary) of drugs to all parts of the country

4. To harmonise public sector drug distribution

5. To establish appropriate structures and systems at national and district levels which will ensure efficient distribution of essential drugs and secure access to these by the population.

Strategies:

1. Produce guidelines on good pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution practice

2. Train sufficient numbers of staff required for drug distribution operations (in both public and private sector) and ensure the establishment of an appropriate system of monitoring and support supervision

3. Produce guidelines, establish systems and incentives to promote, and introduce statutory controls as required to enforce, the equitable distribution of drug outlets

4. Establish and maintain an efficient mechanism for the identification and redistribution of excess stocks in both government and non-government institutions

5. Collaborate with all relevant parties in order to promote to the greatest extent possible the harmonisation of the public and private sector drug distribution networks