Assessing Challenges and Solutions in Ensuring the Continuous Supply of Essential Medicines in Afghanistan
Key words: Challenges, Essential medicines, Herat, Supply, Solutions
Ziaulhaq Sadat
Abstract
The continuous supply of essential medicines is crucial for a country like Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a country that faces challenges in securing essential medicines through domestic production. It is necessary to identify the existing opportunities and challenges and combine them in the best possible way to outline better conditions. This study aims to assess the challenges and solutions in ensuring the continuous supply of essential medicines in Afghanistan. The study used a qualitative approach and employed a content analysis method. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit participants from the target populations of university professors, technical and support staff of manufacturing companies, and drug importers in Herat province. The field data was collected with semi-structured interviews, and theoretical data with the library method. The time period for the study was the summer of 1404. Findings suggest that the challenges of ensuring the supply of essential medicines in Afghanistan are multidimensional, and the solutions would also be composed of multiple dimensions. Finally, based on the research findings, it is recommended to focus on strengthening domestic production of pharmaceuticals, especially essential medicines, and to promote scientific research and development. Additionally, support for inventors should be provided, and effective monitoring systems should be established to meet the long-term needs of the country in the field of medicine and health.
