Abstract
At present, the management of drugs and medical supplies in the emergency is not very efficient. In addition, Thailand very much relies on the importation of drugs and medical supplies in the normal circumstance. This research study aims to review and analyse the management situation of drugs and medical supplies and to propose the recommendations to reform the management of drugs and medical supplies for Thailand in emergency and at normal situation. This study was designed as a qualitative study. The data was collected using qualitative approaches including the literature review, focus group discussion with stakeholders, in-depth interview with experts and Delphi Technique. The study revealed that to reform the system towards the goal of drugs and medical supplies security in the emergency, the national master plan is needed. There is also a need to assign Division of Public Health Emergency Management (DPHEM), Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health to be the focal body with the aim to integrate and cooperate with all other related agencies. The Information and Communication Technology Center should be assigned as the main responsible organization in the reform of the IT system. In addition, the study also indicated that the national list of drugs and medical supplies to be reserved, the quantity to reserve should be determined using the scenario planning technique. Moreover, a new law specific to the management of drugs and medical supplies in the emergency should be developed to enhance the efficiency of the management system. Regarding the self-reliant capability, the study indicated that the reform should first start with fast re-structuring of the existing organizations which are responsible for the improvement of drugs and medical supplies industry and reviewing of their roles and responsibilities to put special focus on drugs and medical supplies. The approaches to reform should be performed throughout the entire supply chain. Furthermore, it is really essential to change the budgeting system and unite the working mechanisms among related authorities. Reduction of selling privilege of the Government Pharmaceutical Organization and other organizations which have similar privilege, aiming to create equity and enable real market competition, is one of the main findings from this study. The government should also support the budget to drugs and medical supplies industry to facilitate more efforts and investment in research and development and production, To conclude, the government should place as much emphasis as possible on this reform. Extensive effort should be carried out to facilitate the system reform. The focal authority should be strengthened on every aspect thus the actual integration could be established and the security of drugs and medical supplies of Thailand could be expected.
