Implementing a national drug policy and achieving its objectives depend on people. They will implement the policy only if they understand its rationale and objectives, when they are trained to do their jobs well, paid adequate wages, and motivated to maintain high standards. Lack of appropriate expertise has been a decisive factor in the failure of some countries to achieve the objectives of their national drug policy. Key policy issues are:

• government responsibility for planning and overseeing the development, training, team building and career planning of human resources needed for the pharmaceutical sector;

• definition of minimum education and training requirements for each category of staff;

• the need for external technical cooperation (national and international).