Pharmaceutical Policy in Countries with Developing Healthcare Systems

A comprehensive and granular insight into the challenges of promoting rational medicine, this book serves as an essential resource for health policy makers and researchers interested in national medicines policies. Country-specific chapters have a common format, beginning with an overview of the health system and regulatory and policy environments, before discussing the difficulties in maintaining a medicines supply system, challenges in ensuring access to affordable medicines and issues impacting on rational medicine use. Numerous case studies are also used to highlight key issues and each chapter concludes with country-specific solutions to the issues raised. Written by highly regarded academics, the book includes countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America.

Dr. Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar is globally recognized for his research in pharmaceutical policy and practice, including quality use of medicines, clinical pharmacy practice, access to medicines and issues related to pharmacoeconomics. He was the Head of Pharmacy Practice at School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand (2011-2015). A pharmacist by training, and with a PhD in pharmacy practice, Dr. Babar is the recipient of the prestigious 'Research Excellence Award' from the University of Auckland. Dr. Babar has presented invited lectures at Boston University School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Austrian Health Institute and at the Universities of Reading and Kingston.

He has published over 100 papers including in high impact journals such as PLoS Medicine and The Lancet Oncology. Dr. Babar has acted as an advisor for the World Health Organisation, Health Action International, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, World Bank, International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and for the Pharmaceutical Management Agency of New Zealand. His other books include work on pharmaceutical prices in the 21^st century, pharmacy practice research methods and on economic evaluation of pharmacy services. Dr. Babar is also the Editor-in-Chief of the BMC Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice. He can be contacted at z.babar@auckland.ac.nz.