Financing Drugs in South-East Asia. Report of the Second Meeting of the WHO/SEARO Working Group on Drug Financing - Health Economics and Drugs No. 008: 5. Country priorities for drug financing: 5.4 Thailand

Financing Drugs in South-East Asia. Report of the Second Meeting of the WHO/SEARO Working Group on Drug Financing - Health Economics and Drugs No. 008
(1998; 72 pages)

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgements
	Abbreviations and acronyms
	Executive summary
	1. Introduction
		1.1 Opening session
		1.2 Objectives of the second meeting
		1.3 Message from the Regional Director (Dr Uton Muchtar Rafei, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia Region)
	2. Country presentations on drug financing
		2.1 Indonesia (presented by Dra Andayaningsih)
		2.2 Myanmar (presented by Dr Myint Thaung)
		2.3 Nepal (presented by Dr K.B. Singh Karki)
		2.4 Thailand (presented by Dr Porntep Siriwanarangsun)
	3. Field visit: Sleman district
		3.1 Descriptions of the health units (compiled by Dr Sri Suryawati)
		3.2 Results of the field visit (compiled by Dr Yos Hudyono)
		3.3 Summary
	4. Drug financing issues
		4.1 The role of the state in drug financing (presented by Dr Germán Velásquez)
		4.2 Review of cost-sharing experiences (presented by Dr Sri Suryawati)
		4.3 Experiences of the Myanmar Essential Drugs Project in drug financing and sustaining availability of essential drugs (presented by Professor U Hla Myint)
		4.4 Drug financing and health reform (presented by Dr Germán Velásquez) (Summary of Antezana F, Velásquez G. Drugs and health sector reform. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1996 (unpublished document - WHO/TFHE/96.2)).
	5. Country priorities for drug financing
		5.1 Indonesia
		5.2 Myanmar
		5.3 Nepal
		5.4 Thailand
	6. Priorities for work group action
		6.1 Increase efficient use of available budget
		6.2 Reduce production and distribution costs
		6.3 Policies/mechanisms to improve existing cost-sharing schemes in the region
		6.4 Mechanisms to reduce the cost/price of drugs
	7. Conclusions and recommendations
		7.1 Country priorities for action
		7.2 Recommendations
	Annex A: Agenda
	Annex B: List of participants
		Indonesia
		Myanmar
		Nepal
		Thailand
		WHO Secretariat
	Annex C: References
	Annex D: Evaluation of the meeting/priorities for the working group

5.4 Thailand

1. Improve rational use of drugs through a proper selection process and effective financing mechanisms.

2. Improve the existing data system for drug financing at all levels of health care facilities (public and private).

3. Control drug prices, especially for essential drugs.

4. Develop guidelines and mechanisms for rational prescribing and rational drug use for providers, prescribers and consumers.