New Book on Pharmaceutical Reform

The World Bank has published a new book, Pharmaceutical Reform: A Guide to Improving Performance and Equity (PDF 3.33 MB). This practical guide responds to an important need within the general area of health sector reform and strengthening of health systems.

Pharmaceutical policy has a significant impact on health system performance in low and middle-income countries. It influences the health of the population, public satisfaction with the health sector and given the reliance out-of-pocket payments, the financial burden the health sector places on its citizens.

Using the "Flagship Framework" for health sector reform, developed by a team from the World Bank Institute and Harvard University, Pharmaceutical Reform: A Guide to Improving Performance and Equity insists that reforms start with a clear definition of the problem and a diagnosis of causes of poor performance.  The framework applies five  “control knobs” --- financing, payment, organization, regulation and persuasion --  to improve pharmaceutical system performance. 

Pharmaceutical Reform: A Guide to Improving Performance and Equity is a reference, practical guide, and teaching tool that should be of great interest to a variety of stakeholders in health care and pharmaceutical reform, both governmental and nongovernmental, as well as to all those interested in improving their understanding of these important issues. This publication was made possible, in part, due to the financial support of the Government of the Netherlands, provided through the Bank-Netherlands Partnership Program.
 

Learn more about the World Bank Institute's Health Systems team's work in governance of pharmaceutical procurement.