In the Republic of Namibia, the Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) program receives funding from the US Government to provide technical guidance for the development and implementation of innovative strategies and programs to strengthen pharmaceutical systems in support of the HIV/AIDS program. SIAPS is collaborating with USAID/Namibia to ensure the availability of quality pharmaceutical products and effective pharmaceutical services to achieve desired health outcomes for the government of the Republic of Namibia.
The Therapeutics Information and Pharmacovigilance Centre (TIPC) is responsible for the promotion of the rational and safe use of medicines in Namibia. Officially launched in 2008 as part of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), it is the official centre for the provision of unbiased therapeutics information and pharmacovigilance services to health care professionals and the general public. The Centre became the 90th full member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Programme for International Drug Monitoring in 2008.
The SIAPS Program in Namibia supports the implementation of initiatives to improve treatment outcomes through strategies that promote pharmacovigilance at the health facility and community levels. Additionally, in collaboration with UW, SIAPS is providing technical guidance towards the implementation of medication risk management strategies at selected referral hospitals in Namibia. In FY12, SIAPS supported the initiation of prospective active surveillance of the safety of antiretroviral medicines at the Windhoek Central Hospital and the Katutura Intermediate Hospital. In FY13, SIAPS continued to provide technical assistance towards the implementation of prospective active surveillance of ARV medicines so that the collected data is managed accurately, and to ensure that the active surveillance system is a long-term and beneficial investment.
