WHY COUNTRY SUPPORT?

The ultimate test of all WHO work is whether it contributes to improving the pharmaceutical and health sectors within countries. WHO serves countries and regions in two ways: by providing direct country support and through the development of policy and normative guidelines that can be adapted by countries to meet national needs.

Country support has been WHO’s largest area of activity in pharmaceuticals, and is provided in response to countries’ expressed wish to develop their pharmaceutical services. At the same time, many donors have been keen to use WHO’s health and pharmaceutical expertise when providing their own country support.

Policy and normative work is demand-driven, based on the needs of the countries. For example, the Essential Drugs Concept and the First Model List of Essential Drugs were developed in response to numerous country requests for pharmaceutical sector assistance.

The need is reciprocal, though, for irrespective of how country work is triggered or instigated, it is a fundamental resource for WHO.

Only by undertaking such work can WHO develop its evidence and knowledge base, and maintain its level of health expertise. This is crucial if the Organization is to maintain its position as the world’s leading authority on public health issues and its capacity to serve Member States.

Placing countries - with their needs and the experience they provide - at the core of all WHO’s pharmaceutical work is clearly essential. Essential drugs in brief will report on the latest WHO activities carried out in and for countries.