Abstract

Ensuring access to affordable and appropriate medicines is an important goal for all health systems. In Nepal, the current three-year health plan (2007-2009) sets a target of 95 percent availability of essential drugs in health facilities. Provision of free essential drugs is also an important component of the newly announced free basic health care programme, which from January 2009 has been rolled out to all people at district and below level. Under this initiative, selected essential drugs (22 for SHP and 32 for HP) are made freely available.

This study examines the current system of drug procurement and management in Nepal. It makes recommendations for increasing its efficiency. These recommendations take on a particular urgency in the light of the free health care policy, which impacts on drugs financing and poses a risk of rapidly increasing and irrational drug consumption. The upgrading of 1,000 sub health posts to health post level also adds to drug supply challenges.