Afghanistan: SPS project inaugurated in Kabul

KABUL (PAN): Dr S. M. Amin Fatimie the Minister of Public Health inaugurated the commencement of Strengthening Pharmaceutical System (SPS) project here on Tuesday. In this regard a one-month training of trainers (ToT) course started in the presence of high ranking governmental authorities, leadership and partners of MoPH, representatives of international organizations, doctors and pharmacists. The purpose of the course is to establish procurement system for drugs, ensure access to and availability of safe drugs, efficiency and access to inexpensive drugs and to ensure the existence of quality drugs. For the past few decades the Afghanistan pharmaceutical system did not bring significant improvements into the health system and unfortunately that poor system was partially collapsed during the civil strife. In last few years with the continuous struggles of MoPH, the pillars of pharmaceutical system were renewed according to international standards. As a result drugs law and relevant regulations were drafted and most of its relevant responsibilities were brought back to the structure. Based on the new law, national board of drugs was established within the MoPH, and remarkable reforms were brought into the drugs strategy of the country, special guidelines were developed f or the different sectors of pharmacy. National drugs policy of MoPH was renewed and implemented, Afghan national formulary was drafted, printed and distributed, national licensed drugs list was drafted, printed and distributed said Fatimie. He also added Problems of last three decades have had its appalling effects on socio-economical system of Afghanistan and affected all areas of the country including the health sector. In a short period of time rehabilitation of the system with current scarce resources looked to be impossible. But besides all these MoPH upgraded the system of health services delivery in the country and also brought huge improvements in which undoubtedly the generous support of international community played an important. Once again we heartedly thank United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Commission (EC), The World Bank and World Health Organization (WHO) for their nonstop support to the Afghan health sector.