Pharmaceutical Sector Scan

MeTA baseline component 1a

Developed by: World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Pharmaceutical Policy at Harvard University / World Health Organisation (WHO) / MeTA

Objective: To provide baseline information on the way medicines for primary care are regulated, supplied and used and to highlight key information gaps.

Output: A large amount of information about medicines presented in a user-friendly, standardised table format.

Additional information: This tool allows the user to collate a core set of information about a country’s pharmaceutical sector and points to areas where key information gaps exist. The information covers eight areas: (1) Country profile, (2) Medicines policy and regulatory framework, (3) Medicines market, (4) Medicines financing, (5) Medicines trade, (6) Medicines supply system, (7) Medicines access, (8) Medicines use.

Process and resources:

This tool does not require external technical assistance.
Data collection requires a team of three to four individuals who are familiar with the health and pharmaceutical sector in the country – this could be an independent academic team.
Implementation of the assessment on average requires around 20-30 working days.
During the MeTA pilot phase US$6,500-$7000 was allocated to each country for this work.

Link to the tool: MeTA: www.medicinestransparency.org/resources/meta-resources/meta-toolkits/

Country Experience: The Pharmaceutical Sector Scan has been undertaken in all seven MeTA pilot countries. Country reports are downloadable as PDFs: