Review of regulatory capacity: a strategy to strengthen national authorities

1. Review of regulatory capacity: a strategy to strengthen national authorities Valerio Reggi, Eshetu Wondemagegnehu, HTP/EDM/QSM 1 October 2003

2. Outline of presentation • Background • Strengthening national authorities

3. Review of regulatory capacity Background Review of national regulatory situation

4. World Health Assembly resolution 52.19 24 May 1999: WHO’s Revised Drug Strategy URGES Member States: (1) to reaffirm their commitment to …… taking all necessary concrete measures in order to ensure equitable access to essential drugs; (2) to ensure that public health interests are paramount in pharmaceutical and health policies; (3) to explore and review their options under relevant international agreements, including trade agreements, to safeguard access to essential drugs;

5. World Health Assembly resolutions & statement Implications for national regulatory authorities: - put public health as first priority of regulatory system development strategy and decisions - contribute to develop market of good quality, safe, effective,and affordable drugs and vaccines - improve regulatory assessment and market control Improve regulatory system's capacity to meet needs of health decision makers , professionals and public

6. Consequences of weak regulatory capacity • Irrational consumption and prescription • Substandard, counterfeit, harmful, useless drugs and vaccines on sale

7. Regulation of drugs and vaccines is an essential public-sector function • Equity: who cares for the poor? • Information imbalance: access to and capacity to assess information on quality, safety, efficacy, value for money, appropriateness • External benefits: immunizations and treatment of contagious diseases benefit all, if left to market laws alone many will not be immunized or treated

8. Key elements of drug regulatory system Drug regulation comprises all the legal, administrative & technical arrangements meant to ensure that: • all premises, persons & practices engaged in the development, manufacture, importation, exportation, wholesale, supply, dispensing & promotion of drugs comply with approved standards, norms, procedures and requirements • drug products are safe, effective and of acceptable quality • product information is unbiased, accurate and appropriate • drugs are available • drugs are used rationally

9. Key elements of drug regulatory system Basic functions in drug regulation (1) • Licensing of manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesale and retail outlets (premises, persons and practices) • Marketing authorization for drug products • Quality control laboratory testing • Provision of drug information and monitoring of drug promotion and advertising Continues……...

10. Key elements of drug regulatory system Basic functions in drug regulation (2) ….continued • Inspection of manufacturing and distribution channel premises • Adverse drug reaction monitoring • Authorization of clinical trials • Monitoring of drug dispensing and prescribing practices • Monitoring of drug utilization and promotion of rational drug use • Application of sanctions

11. Drug regulation is a multi- faceted activity at the centre of complex interactions Government Experts Manufacturers Regulatory authority Prescribers Products Medicines Patients/Consumers Importers/Wholesalers/Retailers

12. Drug regulation is a multi- faceted activity at the centre of complex interactions Government Experts Manufacturers Regulatory authority Prescribers Products Medicines Patients/Consumers Importers/Wholesalers/Retailers

13. Drug regulation is a multi- faceted activity at the centre of complex interactions Government Experts Manufacturers Regulatory authority Prescribers Products Medicines Patients/Consumers Importers/Wholesalers/Retailers

14. Drug regulation is a multi- faceted activity at the centre of complex interactions Government Experts Manufacturers Regulatory authority Prescribers Products Medicines Patients/Consumers Importers/Wholesalers/Retailers

15. Drug regulation is a multi- faceted activity at the centre of complex interactions Government Experts Manufacturers Regulatory authority Prescribers Products Medicines Patients/Consumers Importers/Wholesalers/Retailers

16. The challenges: • the health system counts on DRA for good, safe, and effective medicines and for fair rules and control on drug trade, information, and use • any strategy to improve anything in the pharmaceutical area involves DRA • any problem encountered in the pharmaceutical area has something to do with the DRA

17. Country strategies for achieving effective drug regulation 1. Assess drug regulation performance 2. Identify and develop priority functions 3. Provide clear mission and purpose 4. Create a supportive environment 5. Formulate adequate legislation 6. Create appropriate organisational structure 7. Allocate adequate human and financial resources 8. Minimise corruption and conflict of interest 9. Apply appropriate regulatory & enforcement strategies

18. Effective regulation depends on the environment • adequate consideration is given to the public health value of drugs • norms and regulations are locally meaningful • drug regulation is not fragmented • drug regulation processes are transparent • DRA is also accountable to the public • appropriate sanctions are regularly applied • strong, organised public interest groups are encouraged to play a role in the drug regulatory area • there is freedom of association and information

19. 9th ICDRA 29/4/1999 Good regulatory practice requires: • Mission and objectives clearly stated • Possibility to assess attainment of objectives • Procedures and outcomes transparent to applicants, health professionals, and public • Arguments used to reach decision accessible to the public • Reasonable duration of assessment without compromising quality, safety & efficacy Drug regulation and public health

20. 9th ICDRA 29/4/1999 Good regulatory practice requires: • Expedite review for orphan and outstanding public-health-value drugs • Accountability to government, those regulated, and the public • Personnel adequately trained, highly qualified, of high integrity • Human resource development programme Drug regulation and public health

21. 9th ICDRA 29/4/1999 Good regulatory practice requires: • Mechanisms for appeal and for citizens' complaints • Access to appropriate knowledge and technology • Citizens are provided with accurate and appropriate drug information • Mechanisms to ensure quality of operating procedures Drug regulation and public health

22. No national authority meets all criteria, ......but some are closer than others Drug regulation and public health All want to improve, .... but some are much better placed

23. Big gaps exist

24. Thousands of highly qualified professionals Thousands of highly qualified external experts Virtually unlimited access to the most sophisticated technology and knowledge

25. What is the best approach to strengthening national regulatory authorities?

26. WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations, TSR 790, 1990: ...approach to regulation must be attuned to available resources... ...problems in establishing regulatory control have too often resulted from the introduction of provisions successful elsewhere but of a complexity that precludes their effective implementation in the country of adoption...

27. No importable models Need for review of national regulatory situation and definition of country-specific strategy and priorities

28. WHO's approach: • develop policies • tools for review of regulatory situation • "how to" manuals • training • independent advice • support to regional technical cooperation initiatives

29. Review of regulatory capacity Background Review of national regulatory situation

30. Review of regulatory situation Most elements are common to drugs and vaccines • A single national authority • Same legal basis • Same basic infrastructure & expertise • Same public-health values • Same need to ensure close links with health system • Same need to assess quality, safety and efficacy • Same need to ensure effective market control

31. Review of national situation Only a few issues specific to either drugs or vaccines Vaccines Drugs Generics Drug information & promotion Lot release

32. Key issues • Identify general indicators and key NRA functions • Develop data collection tool that permits to obtain information enabling to identify areas of strength and weakness • Develop criteria to review information collected and turn findings into recommendations

33. General indicators Regulatory functions

34. Review tool Function

35. Regulatory functions

36. Components of “regulatory system”

37. Examples/criteria to review statutory basis • Drug legislation exists • NRA established and empowered in law • QC lab established and empowered in law • inspectorate empowered to access facilities, documentation, collect samples • legal provisions for marketing authorisations • legal provisions for control of importation • legal provisions for control of exportation • legal provisions for control of manufacturing • legal provisions for control of distribution (wholesale and retail) • legal provisions for monitoring safety of marketed products • legal provisions for monitoring quality of marketed products • legal provisions for control of promotion and advertising • legal provisions for control of clinical trials • legal provisions for appropriate sanctions • legal provisions requiring NRA to ensure confidentiality of data, and to be transparent and accountable • legal framework to identify and sanction illegal products and activities • regulations based on legislation issued for all areas, and kept up to date

38. Review findings can be summarized in graphical format % i m p l e m e n t e d NRA Key Functions

39. Review Teams Drug Vaccine Training needs identified Technical support Review and follow up NRA Review Institutional development plan Follow up visits 6-24 months depending on review findings 3-5 days review Within 3 months

40. Outcome of a review visit • opportunity for NRA staff to seat and look at own situation • agreed document that highlights strengths and weaknesses and indicates priorities for action • direct technical support and training • document can be used to apply for additional support from other sources

41. Achievements (1): reviews SEAR Myanmar DPR Korea India Sri Lanka Thailand Indonesia Nepal EUR Hungary Kazakhstan Rep Moldova Turkmenistan Bulgaria Poland Romania Sweden Turkey Ukraine Uzbekistan Russia EMR Oman Saudi Arabia Syrian AR Egypt Iran Pakistan Tunisia Morocco AFR Algeria Nigeria Zimbabwe Senegal South Africa Uganda WPR Philippines China Viet NamLao PDR Cambodia Malaysia Australia AMR Argentina Bolivia Cuba Chile Joint Drug & Vaccine assessments

42. Achievements (2): synergy • learning from each other (data collection tools, GTN) • same message to countries • harmonized technical support tools Drug/vaccine teams synergy benefits WHO work:

43. Achievements (3): progress at country level Vietnam: within 6 months from review Less bureaucracy and more time for meaningful technical work revised regulations Reliable access to technical literature Established capacity to assess new drugs Tailor-made training

44. Achievements (4): progress at country level Tunisia: within 6 months from review Survey to assess prescribers’ perception of regulatory work Weak links with health system Ad hoc training and expertise to enable issuance of drug information by end 2002 for all drugs Inadequate drug information

45. Thank you