Box 2.

Strategies to promote rational use of medicines

A mandated multi-disciplinary national body to coordinate medicine use policies

Clinical guidelines

Essential medicines list based on treatments of choice

Drugs and therapeutics committees in districts and hospitals

Problem-based pharmacotherapy training in undergraduate curricula

Continuing in-service medical education as a licensure requirement

Supervision, audit and feedback

Independent information on medicines

Public education about medicines

Avoidance of perverse financial incentives

Appropriate and enforced regulation

Sufficient government expenditure to ensure availability of medicines and staff