Essential medicines can save lives, reduce suffering and improve health. But to do so, they must be available and affordable, of good quality and properly used.
In developing countries, problems with access to essential medicines remain a serious public health challenge. The Pharmaceuticals Programme of WHO in the Western Pacific Region is guided by the Regional Strategy for Improving Access to Essential Medicines in the Western Pacific Region 2005-2010. The programme activities fall under three broad areas, namely:
Issues and challenges
 National medicines policy, access to essential medicines, irrational use of medicines by providers and consumers
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Activities and achievements
 See activities in different areas: policy and access, medicines regulation, quality assurance and rational drug use
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Price information exchange
 This website provides comparative information on procurement prices across the Western Pacific Region which countries can use to influence their policies on making medicines affordable and in negotiating with suppliers
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Relevant Publications and documents
See featured documents, meeting reports, newsletters, regional and global publications.
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Goals and objectives
 To help save lives and improve health by ensuring equitable access to safe, efficacious and quality-assured essential medicines that are appropriately used by providers and consumers
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Regional Access Strategy 2005-2010
 Over the past 25 years, WHO has strongly advocated the essential medicines concept as part of national medicines policies
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Meetings and events
See reports on recent and coming events
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