manual on management of drugs

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.Ensuring an adequate supply of safe and effective drugs of acceptable
quality is an integral part of the health policy of Sri Lanka. Appropriate
legislation and regulations are provided to implement such a policy.
Provision of Essential Medicines is one of the elements in the primary health
care package.
Pharmaceuticals play a crucial role in preventive and curative healthcare.
Drugs are a vital and an expensive component in the provision of health
services .A fair proportion of the health budget (11%) is invested in
pharmaceuticals. To ensure maximum benefit from such investment, it is
essential that the drug requirements should be based on realistic estimates.
Rational prescribing and efficient drug management with a sense of cost and
quality consciousness are equally important.
2.The Ministry of Health spent Rs.5.34 billion in 2007 on the drugs required
for the health institutions in the state sector. The drug budget was Rs. 2.81
Billion in 2000. The present drug budget is around 10% of the total health
expenditure and that amounts to Rs.3000 (Approx.30US $) per person
annually.
The expenditure on drugs (state sector) in Sri Lanka from 2000 to 2007 is
illustrated in Figure 1.
Value (Rs. Million)
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year
Figure1.The expenditure on drugs in Sri Lanka (2000-2007)
1