Challenges and Opportunities for Improving the Drug System in Thailand

Abstract

Drug system is a part of the health system where the drug management system plays an important part resulting in people having drugs to use, having equal access to quality medicines, having reasonable usage that matches affordability of their household expenses and those of the country’s. The study of various components systematically in all articles of this issue of the Journal provides visibility to many challenges and opportunities to improve the drug system. We synthesized evidence from this supplement issue. The drug system in Thailand still has many challenges and opportunities for improvement in which relevant sectors should promote and implement them, including national mechanisms that monitor trends of those expensive drugs, bargaining for the drug prices, and/or having drug procurement procedures in order to optain reasonable drug prices. Moreover, those drugs shall be used without prejudice and incorrect knowledge and beliefs. There are more issues to be considered such as promoting domestic pharmaceutical production system including generic drug, herbal medicine, and biological materials in order for more self-reliance, producing more experts in the field, having information systems which can efficiently monitor and evaluate performances of various sectors, and improving legal policies which allow implementation of the issues discussed above. Furthermore, all stakeholders involved must be able to adapt to future changes with the main goal of becoming convenience for people to access to essential drugs while unreasonable drug uses are reduced. All the stakeholders must adapt, with an important goal of people being able to easily access to drugs when needed, while unnecessary drug usage be reduced. The system will reduce drug prices; and new drugs will be more effective and specific to the diseases. There will be the use of appropriate technologies to help diagnose and prevent diseases. All of these developments will result in better health of the people.