Tuesday 21st June 2022, the Directorate of National Pharmaceutical Services under the Ministry of Health in collaboration with partners organized a day validation of the National Medicines Policy 2022 - 2025 at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
The meeting brought together stakeholders, development partners, councils and medicines regulatoory agencies in the country. The overall objective of the validation meeting is to present the final draft version of the National Medicines Policy and allow participants to review, discuss and adapt materials and to obtain feedback, opinions from strategic partners on the document.
The World Health Organization Country Office in The Gambia provided the needed technical and financial support for the updating of the National Medicines Policy to reflect the current day reality of the pharmaceutical sector and as well as lay out strategic steps to address the identified challenges and for the advancement of the sector.
In his opening ceremony of the validation Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh Honourable Minister of Health, The Honourable Minister assured the participants of his continuous support in the implementation of the National Medicines Policy 2022 - 2025.
Dr. Samateh said that over the last six years the pharmaceutical sector has seen significant achievements most notably the enactment of the Pharmacy Control Act as well as Medicine and other Related Products Act 2014.
He explained that, "The Medicines Control Agency regulates medicines and related products from importation to distribution and even manufacturing just to name a few. The Pharmacy Council of The Gambia regulates the pharmacy in terms of personelle."
The Director of National Pharmaceutical Services, Mr Babanding Sabally stressed the need to have access to health care as its a fundamental human right, However, access to health cannot be fulfilled without the availability of essential medicines.r Therefore he added, A weak pharmaceutical sector cannot support a quality health delivery system.“The regulation of access to medical products and technology is one of the 6 building blocks of the health system, which also includes Human Resource, , finance,
The World Health Organization Country Representative The Gambia Government through the Ministry of Health for the validation Medicines Policy 2022-2025, adding it shows a high level of commitment to the welfare of the Gambia. He highlighted that the budget spent on procurement of Medicines and related products has not been enough to stop stockouts.
The Deputy Director of National Pharmaceutical Services Mrs Fatoumatta Samateh Jawara gave the overview and rational for the validation through a PowerPoint presentation.
The meeting brought together stakeholders, development partners, councils and medicines regulatoory agencies in the country. The overall objective of the validation meeting is to present the final draft version of the National Medicines Policy and allow participants to review, discuss and adapt materials and to obtain feedback, opinions from strategic partners on the document.
The World Health Organization Country Office in The Gambia provided the needed technical and financial support for the updating of the National Medicines Policy to reflect the current day reality of the pharmaceutical sector and as well as lay out strategic steps to address the identified challenges and for the advancement of the sector.
In his opening ceremony of the validation Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh Honourable Minister of Health, The Honourable Minister assured the participants of his continuous support in the implementation of the National Medicines Policy 2022 - 2025.
Dr. Samateh said that over the last six years the pharmaceutical sector has seen significant achievements most notably the enactment of the Pharmacy Control Act as well as Medicine and other Related Products Act 2014.
He explained that, "The Medicines Control Agency regulates medicines and related products from importation to distribution and even manufacturing just to name a few. The Pharmacy Council of The Gambia regulates the pharmacy in terms of personelle."
The Director of National Pharmaceutical Services, Mr Babanding Sabally stressed the need to have access to health care as its a fundamental human right, However, access to health cannot be fulfilled without the availability of essential medicines.r Therefore he added, A weak pharmaceutical sector cannot support a quality health delivery system.“The regulation of access to medical products and technology is one of the 6 building blocks of the health system, which also includes Human Resource, , finance,
The World Health Organization Country Representative The Gambia Government through the Ministry of Health for the validation Medicines Policy 2022-2025, adding it shows a high level of commitment to the welfare of the Gambia. He highlighted that the budget spent on procurement of Medicines and related products has not been enough to stop stockouts.
The Deputy Director of National Pharmaceutical Services Mrs Fatoumatta Samateh Jawara gave the overview and rational for the validation through a PowerPoint presentation.