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 gained during this second meeting?

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

3. How can the 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 that WHO could provide to help improve the drug financing situation?

Responses from each country delegate to questions 1 and 2 are outlined below. Responses to questions 3, 4 and 5 indicated the topics, in order of priority, which could be taken up at the third meeting of the working group. The topics are cost-sharing for health and drugs; public financing; insurance for health and drugs; health reform and global change; drug pricing policies and mechanisms; and financing mechanisms. Regarding the format of the meeting, the group gave the field visits a relatively high score. Most participants felt that the length of each session was about right (see Annex D for further details).

Indonesia

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

Future priorities include:

• Proposing additional budgets to pay for such activities as:

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

• Requesting WHO to elaborate guidelines for cost-sharing schemes (public-private mix) for 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 to a pilot cost-sharing project.

Myanmar

The meeting increased knowledge of drug financing concepts, as well as facilitating an exchange of experience 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 on and discussions of models for financing systems 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 benefits of cost-sharing schemes;

• reviewing the progress made between this meeting and the next;

• promoting the exchange of experience between Member States;

• supporting the development and use of guidelines and monitoring systems for drug financing and providing updates and ideas.

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 area of operational research, provide documents and engage short-term consultants.