162. In accordance with the mission letter and the half-yearly Work Plan (PTBA)
2014, the priorities of the Ministry revolve around four (4) priority actions. They
include the national strategic plan for combating HIV/AIDS, strategies for the
prevention and care for malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases and other
communicable diseases including epidemic-prone diseases, improvement in the
quality and availability of health services and the adoption of an implementation
programme in respect of the principle of decentralisation.
1.3-National Pharmaceutical Policy
163. Adopted in 2012, the national pharmaceutical policy is aimed at contributing to
the improvement of the health of the population by providing them access to quality
health products to be used in a rational manner through:
- Strengthening of the national pharmaceutical regulatory system;
- Improving management of quality health products;
- Improving essential generic medicines and essential medical supplies across the
country;
- Strengthening of financial access to essential health products across the country;
- Promoting rational use of health products;
- Strengthening qualified human resources in the pharmaceutical sector.
- Promoting research in the pharmaceutical sector.
- Strengthening the fight against pharmaceutical crime.
164. The institutional and legal framework of policy regulation is structured around
the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority (ANRP) which plays seven (7)
key roles in ensuring quality, efficiency and safe use of health products made
available to the population. These functions can be summarised as follows:
Approvals of pharmaceutical products through granting authorisations for supply
on the market (AMM);
Granting of operational licences to the various pharmaceutical
institutions/establishments
Ensuring market surveillance by controlling imports and exports and quality
control of health products;
Ensuring pharmaceutical inspection;
Ensuring pharmacovigilance and other forms of vigilance;
Managing and controlling clinical trials;
Ensuring oversight responsibility for the promotion of health products and the
production of reliable medical-pharmaceutical information.
165. Among the achievements in 2014, the following can be mentioned:
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