• Standard treatment guidelines (STG) produced by the MOH was last reviewed in 2002.
• There is no National Medicines Formulary manual.
• There are no continuing education programs, medicines information centre or public education campaign concerning rational medicines use although there is a government department with a specific mandate to promote rational use of medicines and co-ordinate medicines use policies.
• All referral hospitals and a few general hospitals have drugs and therapeutics committees.
Interpretation:
The results from level I indicators suggest that, although the basic structures that are considered necessary for implementing a national medicine policy exists the performance of the structures is not optimal.
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Recommendations:
• The KNDP needs to be revised so as to include the regulation of traditional medicines.
• Improve the capacity of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to effectively carry out its role.
• There is a need to allocate more funds to the health sector especially to cater for medicines.**
• There is need to develop a pricing policy on medicines.
• Strategies need to be developed so as to promote rational use of medicines.
• A functional National Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee needs to be established, supported (financially and technically) and sustained.
• A functional National Medicines Management Information System/Logistics Management Information System needs to be established, supported (financially and technically) and sustained
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