Table 1 Findings from global policy review: emergence of essential medicines policy
Year | Organization | Event/source of evidence | Main content |
|---|---|---|---|
1974 | United Nations | New economic and political order | Politics stream: increased recognition and space for expression amongst newly independent states Policy stream: global solidarity |
1974 | WHO | Executive Board fifty-third session resolution | Problem stream: drugs not aligned to health needs Policy stream: Align policies with public health needs |
1975 | WHO/UNICEF | Alternative approaches to meeting basic needs for developing countries | Problem stream: majority of populations lack access to health Policy stream: reorient health systems towards prevention Politics stream: ineffectiveness of Western models of care in developing countries |
1975 | WHO | Executive Board fifty-fifth session resolution | Problem stream: drugs not aligned to health needs Policy stream: align policies with public health needs |
1975 | WHO | Twenty-eighth World Health Assembly resolutions | Problem stream: drugs not aligned to health needs, rising costs Policy stream: essential drugs list Politics stream: increased recognition of newly independent states |
1977 | WHO | Essential drugs list | Problem stream: proliferation of nonessential drugs Policy stream: limited list of drugs |
1978 | WHO/UNICEF | Primary healthcare | Problem stream: inadequate attention to prevention Policy stream: essential drugs part of PHC component Politics stream: global solidarity and fairness |
1981 | WHO | Action Programme on Essential Drugs | Problem stream: Inadequate capacity for developing countries to formulate own national drug policies Policy stream: Action program on essential drugs |
1985 | WHO | Conference of experts on the rational use of drugs | Problem stream: inappropriate use of drugs Policy stream: implementation of national drug policies Politics stream: political resistance for imposing user charges on drugs by developing countries |
1987 | UNICEF | Bamako Initiative | Problem stream: increasing drug costs Policy stream: user fees for drugs and revolving fund Politics stream: structural adjustment programmes, donor fatigue |
1987 | WHO | Harare Declaration | Problem stream: increasing drug costs Policy stream: user fees for drugs and revolving fund Politics stream: structural adjustment programmes, donor fatigue |