NATIONAL DRUG POLICY (Ndp):
DEFNITION:
DEFNITION National drug policy refers to the way in which a country regulates the
availability , quality and use of drugs. ideally , the drug policy should be a part of a broader
national health policy aimed to improve the health of peoples.
GOALS AND AIMS:
The main aim of national drug policy is to reduce the effect harmful substances use
through a balance of measures, such as; Control or limit the availability of drugs.
(Supply control)
Limit the use of drug by individual. (Demand reduction)
Reduce harm from the existing drug use. (Problem limitation)
The goals of the policy shall be to make available at all times to the populace
adequate supplies of drugs that are effective, affordable , safe and of good quality ;
to ensure the rational use of such drugs ; and to stimulate increased local production
of essential drugs.
OBJECTIVES:
The main objectives of the policy are;
To ensure efficient and effective drug management in the public, private sectors.
To ensure access to safe , effective , affordable and good quality drugs at all the levels
of the health care on the basis of health needs.
To promote the rational use of drugs by prescribers, dispensers and consumers.
To increase local drug production and promote export.
To ensure that all drugs in the national drug distribution system are safe, efficacious ,
effective and good quality.
To promote research on herbal remedies and integrate those found to be safe in to the
health system.
STRATERGIES FOR IMPLIMENTING THE NATIONAL DRUG POLICY.:
Strategies that shall be used to implement the national drug policy shall focus on effective
drug and management processes . And also include assurance of quality of drugs at all levels ,
appropriate storage , proper costing and effective distribution of drugs , promoting of local
drug development , monitoring and evaluation . National drug policy help central and local
government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOS) to develop work programs
and action plans that fit into a national direction .
selection of drugs:
The drug selection process is to have a national list of drugs rationally chosen to health care
needs of the majority of the populations. According to the drug selection the federal
government shall take the following steps.
a. A reversed essential drug list shall be published and made available to health professionals,
state and primary, secondary, tertiary health institution.
b. Drug include on this list shall be using generic name also .
c. As much as possible ,formulation contain more than one active ingredient shall be avoided,
unless some criteria should be followed.
d. When two or more drugs are therapeutically equivalent or several drugs are available for
the same indication , preference shall be given to best clinical data , cost advantage ,
favorable pharmacokinetics and best patients compliance.
PROCUREMENT OF DRUGS :
The procurement process is a major determination of the safety , efficacy , quality
,affordability and availability of drugs.
To address the following situations ,the following criteria shall be adhered to;
a. Government shall be committed to good procurements practice in the public sector .
b. Procurement in the public sector shall be by generic name.
c. Procurement at all the levels shall be by open , competitive and transparent manner with
the advice of the pharmacy department.
d. Procurement shall be based on the accurate qualification of the drug requirements of the
pharmacy department.
e. Procurement and receipt procedures shall ensure that drug supply are of good quality.
f. Drug procured at all levels shall be subjected to quality assessment before distribution to
dispensing units.
Pricing policy:
Experience in resent years has shown that the public sector, there are wide variations in the
prices of the same drug s from one institution to another. Therefore, to ensure affordability of
drug in public health institution, government shall establish to guarantee that drug supply to
patients shall cost less than in private sectors.
Drug store:
The drug store shall be ensure the stock security and the maintenance of the quality of drug
through their shelf life. Government shall ensured that the suitably located, constructed
equipped storage facilities will be available at every level of the drug distribution system, in
both private and public sectors. in both private and public medical stores the health care
facilities shall be properly managed to ensure that the drug do not expire or deteriorate on the
shelf. Regular check shall be undertaken to ensure that the do not deteriorate under the
storage condition.
Drug distribution:
Public and private sector to establish the adequate temperature requirement for the storage of
drugs, vaccines and biological substances shall be keep at cold storage conditions for
maintenance of the shelf life. In this drug distribution the following measures shall be
enforced by the federal government; Drug distribution, supply, sale and dispensing shall be
under the control or supervision of pharmacist. Government ensure that all the drug purchase
or donation of private public sector, only from the central medical stores.
3. Government shall establish inventory control system , including computerization , in all
hospital pharmacies and clinics for effective inventory.
4. The channel for private sector drug distribution shall follow from manufactures or
importers to wholesalers and retailers. 5. Drug distribution in the country shall, at least , be
labeled in English.
Local drugs production:
In order to achieve the target of reliance on local drug production , step shall be taken by the
government to ; To provide a efficient regulatory environment. Encourage the development
of a stable economic and political environment. Intensify effort to improve basic
infrastructure and facilities. Encourage small scale pharmaceutical production. Encourage
research on pharmaceutical raw materials. Provide grant for the establishment of plants for
the production of basic raw materials. Local drugs production
Inspection of drug:
Effective inspection of drug products and manufacturing facilities is critical to ensuring the
quality, safety, efficacy of the drug. it is also necessary to ensure the compliances with the
statutory requirements relating to the storage, supply, distribution and sale of drugs etc..
Importation and exportation:
A substantial proportion of drugs consumed in a country is imported, while the export of drug
from the country is insignificant . There should be a balance between importation and
exportation of drugs. The national drug policy shall seeks to promote self-reliance in national
drug consumption, as well as, Contribution of the local pharmaceutical industry to the
national economy through the national exportation. Importation and exportation
Control of veterinary drugs:
The national drug policy shall apply in equal force to veterinary pharmaceuticals. The
utilization of the veterinary drug shall comply with ethical veterinary practice and
government shall ensure the effective monitoring of drug utilization in this sector. Generic
prescription shall be adopted by appropriately authorized and registered prescriber. The sale
of the veterinary drug shall be undertaken by pharmacist or any other person authorized or
licensed by the PCI. Control of veterinary drugs 19
Monitoring and Evaluations:
The success of the national drug policy would depend on how well its provisions are
implemented. The national drug policy monitoring and evaluation unit in the federal ministry
of health, to measure progress implementation of the policy and to run a national evaluation
scheme . T he national drug policy monitoring and evaluation is an integral part of national
health information system. Monitoring and Evaluations 20 authorSTREAM
