Several countries in the Asia and Pacific regions frequently encounter difficulties to ensure a consistent supply of essential medicines. This will have a significant impact on access. The distribution of essential medicines is often fragmented and uneven and not reaching the population in need. Medicines supply can be improved through coordinated medicines management, planning and monitoring system in the public sector, including procurement based on good procurement practices, national policies and essential medicines list. There should be training in drug management on essential medicines taking into account the existing policies at the national levels and at the decentralized environment. There is an urgent need for policy makers and health program managers related to medicines supply to be well aware and better equip with knowledge, expertise and skills to deal with the issues confronting the medicines supply system.

Objectives of the Workshop
1. To highlight issues related to decentralization and medicines supply systems, as well as the need for efficient coordination and integration of medicines procurement and management at the central levels.
2. To better understand medicines management, from selection, quantification, costing, procurement, distribution, quality assurance, especially in decentralized environment, and how to ensure a coordinated mechanism between different programs.
3. To understand and to identify mechanism for quality assurance in decentralized system.
4. To brainstorm opportunity for cost-containment.
5. To be able to undertake monitoring and supervision and todeal with problems encountered.