Approaches and Tools for Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems

Published : February 28, 2023

Strong pharmaceutical systems are critical for ensuring access to and appropriate use of safe, effective, quality-assured, affordable medical products and related services to improve health. Pharmaceutical systems strengthening (PSS) is the process of identifying and implementing strategies and actions that achieve coordinated and sustainable improvements in the critical components of a pharmaceutical system to make it more responsive and resilient and to enhance its performance for achieving better health outcomes.

Figure 1. A pharmaceutical system consists of all structures, people, resources, processes, and their interactions within the broader health system that aim to ensure equitable and timely access to safe, effective, quality pharmaceutical products and related services that promote their appropriate and cost-effective use to improve health outcomes.

As part of its support to low- and middle-income countries, MTaPS uses various approaches and tools to help countries achieve better health outcomes and higher-performing health systems by improving the overall effectiveness of pharmaceutical systems through improving individual systems components.

Local organizations—including Ministries of Health, academic institutions, professional associations, and local implementing partners—are taking an increasing lead in the improvement of pharmaceutical systems in their country context. Below, we present a library of resources across nine different areas of PSS that can be applied in specific country contexts.

We also highlight experiences from local organizations that share their PSS approaches and challenges.
To learn more and take action to strengthen pharmaceutical systems in your context, please use the resources below.