Pharmaceutical Services

Successful pharmaceutical systems hinge on cadres of skilled health care workers, program managers, and leaders—people with up-to-date knowledge, skills, and competency-based training to effectively implement pharmaceutical management activities. These successful systems also require that institutions and organizations have sufficient capacity to lead, manage, and effect positive change within the pharmaceutical sector.

SIAPS worked with country governments, universities, health facilities and health care workers, professional associations, and private-sector entities to address pressing human resource capacity challenges, including health care worker shortages, resource constraints, competency gaps, outdated curricula, and policy-level issues. The program also worked to build capacity for comprehensive, patient-centered pharmaceutical care practices, anchored by effective information systems and tools to promote rational medicine use, improve medication adherence, and slow the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Activities included developing a number of university training programs to enhance pharmaceutical education, a key mechanism to sustain progress. SIAPS also worked to improve in-service training opportunities for practicing pharmaceutical and health professionals.