Cabinet today has approved the National Medicinal Products Policy.
The Policy is a framework to address complicated and interdependent problems that relates to improved accessibility of quality and safe medicines.
The Policy is a result of a review of the 1994 Fiji National Drug Policy, using the Medicinal Products Decree 2011 and the Pharmacy Profession Decree 2011.
Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Minister for Health, Dr Neil Sharma.
The Minister said that access to health care, especially essential medicines, is a prerequisite for the realization of health as a fundamental human right.
“Because medicines play a crucial role in many aspects of health care, its availability, affordability, quality and proper use can offer simple yet cost-effective answers to many health problems.
The Minister said that in recognition of the fact that essential medicines are not used to their full potential, the World Health Assembly [WHA] in 1975, in its resolution WHA 28.66, requested the World Health Organization [WHO] to assist member states in the formulation and implementation of national drug policies.
The Minister said that the general objectives of the policy centre on accessibility, quality and the rational use of medicines by health professionals and consumers.
“The Policy covers aspects such as selection of essential medicines, procurement and sale of medicines, storage, inventory and distribution of medicines, rational use of medicine and advertising and promotion of medicines.”
The Minister said that the Policy will be implemented by January 2013 to coincide with the commencement of the Fiji Medicinal Products Decree in the same period.
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