Department of Medicines Policy and Standards (HTP/PSM)
Mission
The Department of Medicines Policy and Standards (HTP/PSM) is the lead department in WHO for Medicines policies, norms and standards.
Objective
Core function: Fulfill WHO’s constitutional obligation to develop, validate, disseminate and promote global policy guidance, norms and standards on pharmaceuticals, including essential medicines.
NB: PSM's core function is complementary to that of TCM,
which focuses on technical collaboration with Member States. See also:
Specific functions of PSM:
- Develop policies, norms and standards: Develop, validate, disseminate and promote up-to-date and scientifically sound policy, guidance, norms, standards, specifications and guidelines on the efficacy, quality, safety, selection, affordability, financing, supply and rational use of medicines (constitutional obligation);
- Provide information and guidance: Provide all global stakeholders, including Member States, other WHO departments, UN agencies and other international organizations, private and non-profit organizations, governmental and non-governmental institutions, universities and collaborating centers with the policy guidance, technical information, training materials and professional expertise developed by the department;
- Promote global consistency: Promote global coordination and consistency of pharmaceutical policies, norms and standards between WHO departments, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations and other organizations;
- Support international conventions: Support the International Narcotic Control Board and related UN bodies in implementing the international conventions on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (international treaty obligation , constitutional obligation) 5.Promote policy research: Plan, coordinate, facilitate and document literature-based and operational research, leading to the development of new technologies, guidelines, resource materials and training tools in support of pharmaceutical policies.
Main recipients and implementation channels
There are many direct "clients" or "implementation channels" for materials generated by PSM. They often participate in the development of policies and standards, and use them afterwards.
Main challenges and strategic direction
As part of the WHO Strategic competency review and planning process, main challenges and key elements of strategic direction have been presented by PSM's three organizational units:
- Quality assurance and safety of medicines: Main challenges and strategic direction
- Policy, Access and Rational Use (PAR): Main challenges and strategic direction
- Office of the Director, PSM: Main challenges and strategic direction
Collaboration within the Essential Medicines Area of Work
PSM works with HTP/TCM, and WHO Regional and Country Offices in order to provide and coordinate relevant technical support to countries.
2. Joint planning with TCM through joint technical working groups (e.g. on drug pricing, supply systems, regulatory support, EC partnership programme)
1. Annual meetings of the Global Medicines Council (PSM and TCM directors and team coordinators with all regional advisers); three-monthly video conferences
3. Consistency of medicine work within WHO: PSM will convene regular coordination meetings, starting with quality issues and evidence-based clinical guidelines.
4. Close collaboration with all WHO departments in developing the next Medicine Strategy.
Contact
Department of Medicines Policy and Standards (HTP/PSM)
World Health Organization
20, via Appia
CH-1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
Fax +41 22 791 35 09
Email: edmdoccentre@who.int
Director
Dr Hans V. Hogerzeil
Team Coordinator: Policy, Access and Rational use of Medicines (PAR)
Dr Clive Ondari
Team Coordinator: Quality and safety of Medicines
Dr Lembit Rägo
Technical units
Monitoring: Ms Kathleen Holloway
Supply management: Dr Marthe Everard
Rational drug use: Dr Richard Laing
Publications: Dr Lalit Dwivedi