Each country's final assignment was to consider its own health and drug financing situation and priority needs, and the role of the Working Group. They were asked the following questions:

1. What have been the most important insights and experiences from this meeting?

2. What actions can be taken to improve the drug financing situation in your country?

3. How can the next meeting of the Working Group best serve your needs? What field visits, presentations, or discussions would be most helpful?

4. Could you see the Working Group providing any other assistance?

5. Is there any additional information or assistance which WHO can provide to help improve the drug financing situation?

The responses were:

Indonesia

• The meeting facilitated an exchange of information, which it is hoped will continue.

• Future priorities include:

⇒ Proposing additional budget for drugs to pay for activities, such as:

-improving the coverage of hepatitis B vaccination for new-born babies;
-improving the coverage of the TB programme;
-increasing the local government budget for drugs;
-encouraging and enlarging the programme for community participation.

⇒ Requesting WHO to distribute guidelines for cost-sharing schemes (public-private mix) to countries participating in the next meeting. This meeting should:

-discuss the development of national guidelines;
-formulate an action plan;
-include field visits.

⇒ Requesting WHO or other agencies to provide assistance for a pilot cost-sharing project.

Myanmar

• The meeting increased knowledge of drug financing concepts, as well as allowing an exchange of experiences with other countries.

• Future priorities include:

⇒ Strengthening and extending cost-sharing activities.

⇒ Improving financial management through training.

⇒ Promoting the plan of action for drug financing, and the development of drug financing mechanisms, through presentations and discussions on models for financing systems. This will be done in consultation with local hospitals and drug stores.

⇒ Helping to coordinate external assistance.

⇒ Requesting WHO to provide technical tools for the review of the drug financing situation in each country.

Nepal

• Concepts of drug financing have become clear as a result of the meeting.

• Future priorities include:

⇒ Convincing higher authorities as well as users about the benefit of cost-sharing schemes.

⇒ Reviewing the progress made between this meeting and the next.

⇒ Promoting the exchange of experiences between Member Countries.

⇒ Supporting the development and use of guidelines and monitoring systems for drug financing and providing updated information.

Thailand

• The meeting facilitated technical cooperation among the four countries and encouraged participants to share experiences and ideas.

• Future priorities include:

⇒ Strengthening essential drugs programmes in the public and private sectors.

⇒ Holding a follow-up meeting.

⇒ Requesting WHO to provide technical support in the areas of operational research, provision of documents, and short-term consultancies.

Workshop evaluation

An evaluation of the different aspects of the workshop was made. The participants identified topics based on the prevailing needs of the countries. The topics, in order of priority, which could be taken up at the next meeting of the Working Group are: public financing, including drug financing indicators and ways to increase public drug budgets; policies and guidelines for cost-sharing; public-private roles in the pharmaceutical sector; and financing mechanisms to improve rational use of drugs.

Regarding the format of the meeting, the group felt that there should be more field visits, more time for group discussions and about the same number of presentations (See Annex E for further details).