who medicines strategy - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

WHO MEDICINES STRATEGY 2004-2007 | 24Figure 3:Ensuring access to essential medicines requires acoordinated set of actionsPRIORITIES FOR 2004-2007The central priority for 2004-2007 remains thatof expanding access to essential medicines,one of the health-related MDGs to which theinternational community is committed. Toachieve this goal, WHO will emphasize access toall essential medicines, including those for HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, and childhood illness.Ensuring access to essential medicines dependson success in putting in place the four key piecesof the access puzzle: rational selection, affordableprices, sustainable financing, and reliable healthsupply systems (Figure 3). Work in this areawill include analysis of effective drug supplystrategies, including supply services operated byfaith-based organizations.Within the overall objective of access, WHO willgive the greatest attention to scaling up access toARVs to meet the WHO target of ensuring that3 million people in developing countries haveaccess to treatment for HIV/AIDS by 2005.New and continued priorities in the area ofnational medicines policies include:> implementation of the WHO TraditionalMedicine Strategy> promotion and monitoring of access toessential medicines as a human right> greater attention to innovation to ensure thedevelopment of new medicines for neglecteddiseases and other priority needs> ensuring a public health-oriented approach tonational implementation of trade agreements> promoting a stronger ethical dimension in thepharmaceutical sector, including the use ofanti-corruption measures.Finally, during 2004-2007 increased attention willbe given to medicines safety through expandedsafety monitoring and continued strengthening ofquality assurance.