title: The essential drugs in Tanzania: a ten year (1979-1988) review following the Alma Ata declaration.
abstract: In this paper the essential drugs concept/policy/lists (EDLs) particularly in Tanzania, has been reviewed. In Tanzania, 1974 was the beginning of national expression for the need of an essential drugs/policy/list. It is noted that while the primary health care workers are knowledgeable of EDLs, the secondary and tertiary workers need to be trained. There must be a decision that such a list must now be used nationally by all the health institutions. The Tanzania pharmaceutical manufacturing companies must be given national backing to release the country from the chronic habit of relying on imported drugs. The Ministry of Health (MOH) should follow the World Health Organization's (WHO) example of regular and constant review of the EDLs in updating its own lists. An assessment should be made of the essential drugs list system in terms of the content versus disease pattern in various region of the country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Avondale, Harare.
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Kasilo
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mwaluko
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000592:standards; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000592:standards*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations