The WHO Medicines Strategy is part of a broader strategy, covering projected work to be undertaken by the Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals Cluster during 2000 - 2003. The cluster strategy 24 covers not only the work of the Department of Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy, but also that of the Department of Blood Safety and Clinical Technology, and the Department of Vaccines and Biologicals. One of the aims of the cluster strategy is to create synergy between the cluster departments in areas such as financing, supply systems, strengthening of regulatory capacity, quality assurance and monitoring of impacts.

Five core competencies and three priority areas have been identified for the cluster, as presented in Figure 4.

Research and development for new essential drugs is handled by separate research departments in the Communicable Diseases, and Family and Community Health Clusters.

Figure 4: Health technology and pharmaceutical core competencies and priority areas