Assessment of the NF can be integrated with ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the national pharmaceutical sector and/or with any health facility quality assurance programme.
WHO and other agencies have developed assessment packages to systematically monitor and evaluate pharmaceutical policies and systems and various components at the national level.22 Indicators relevant to the evaluation of the NF can be developed, and the data collection and analysis can be combined with existing monitoring and evaluation activities. This can save considerable time and resources and reduce duplication of effort when compared with setting up and conducting completely independent evaluations. However, the NFC may also wish to carry out some specifically focused evaluations from time to time.
22 Detailed information and links to resources on pharmaceutical system evaluations can be found on the Internet at: http://www.who.int/medicines/strategy/policy/indicators_intro.shtml