Why must we urgently strengthen pharmaceutical systems in LMICs?

Medical products, technologies and pharmaceutical services play a critical role in determining health outcomes. However, access to safe, effective medical products is often lacking in low and middle-income countries. In fact, falsified medicines are responsible for around 500,000 deaths every year in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Work is urgently needed to improve medical product regulation and supply chain maturity. We must strengthen pharmaceutical systems to ensure access to quality-assured medical products at affordable prices.

More information on the basic principles of pharmaceutical strengthening can be found on the PSS 101 e-learning modules platform: https://www.globalhealthlearning.org/course/pharmaceutical-systems-strengthening-101

Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by a consortium led by Management Sciences for Health (MSH), MTaPS aims to help low- and middle-income countries strengthen their pharmaceutical systems to ensure sustainable access to and appropriate use of safe, effective, quality-assured, and affordable essential medicines and pharmaceutical services.