National essential medicine list -2018 to be implemented in all provinces: Kiani

ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Health Services Aamer Mehmood Kiani on Friday said that national essential medicine list (NEML) 2018 will be implemented in all provinces across the country, for the benefit of the patients.

Addressing the formal ceremony for dissemination of standardized list for essential medicine and launching of its mobile application, the minister emphasized on the availability and access of essential medicine for common people in the country.

He said that national essential medicine list is an important element of national health system policies and practices and has proven to be a useful tool to help country in selecting quality, safe, efficacious and affordable medicines.

He said that access to essential medicines is part of right to health and important tool to provide access of quality medicines to the people of Pakistan and cost effectiveness is an important concern for the poor masses.

Chief Executive Officer, DRAP Dr Sheikh Akhter Hussain said that NEML-2018 has been standardized in line with WHO Essential Model List 2017. The list of essential medicines is aimed at satisfying the primary healthcare needs of the population.

He added the list will provide guidelines to Basic Health Units (BHUs), Rural Health Centres (RHCs), and Tertiary Care Hospitals for selection of essential medicine.

He said that NEML, 2018 is a commitment of the government to ensure cost effective ways to deliver equitable access to affordable medicines that are safe, effective, and are aimed at improving the quality of patient care as well as clinical decision making.

Mission Director USAID, Pakistan Jerry Bisson said that the NEML-2018 would enable policy makers and service providers to ensure adequate supply of quality medicines across the healthcare continuum and would be instrumental in addressing the priority health problems of Pakistan.

Country Director, GHSC-PSM project Dr Muhammad Tariq highlighted the USAID supply chain support to the government of Pakistan and its impact on mother and child health. The event was attended by the CEO, DRAP, Dr. Sheikh Akhter Husain, USAID Mission Director, Jerry Bisson, CEO Pakistan Society of Health System Pharmacist, WHO country Head, Dr Nima Saeed Abed and representatives from international and national health partner organizations.