As a result of a technical cooperation project envisioned by the ASEAN Health Ministers in 1979 and launched in 1982, human resources development in drug supply management and quality assurance has been upgraded significantly in the ASEAN region. Pharmaceutical regional and reference substances have been developed and are faithfully complied with throughout the region.
Moreover, adherence by drug producers to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) has ensured wide acceptance of medical products turned out by the ASEAN region. And, in general, the pharmaceutical sector of the ASEAN region has been strengthened in accordance with the Action Programme on Essential Drugs of the World Health Organization (WHO). This means sufficient and regular supplies of effective and safe essential drugs of a quality acceptable to the population. The initial phases of the project were focused on establishing mechanisms for exchanging information on various aspects of drug supply, developing guidelines for drug evaluation, developing adequate quality control laboratories and production of reference substances.
Four phases of the project have been completed with the fifth phase (1997-2001) still ongoing. The basic mechanism for the project has been the transfer of knowledge and expertise. The project has provided training opportunities in developed countries in terms of fellowships, study tours and experts meetings to ASEAN nationals, giving them access to the latest technologies.
The knowledge and expertise thus acquired have been spread further on in the ASEAN countries.
A major feature of the project has been the setting up of regional training centres in the member countries. These training centres were established simply by designating a particular institution or agency that could be developed to conduct training courses in specific pharmaceutical skills, with minimal assistance in the form of materials and manpower if necessary.
In the operation of the training centres, emphasis has been placed on various aspects of quality assurance and hospital pharmacy.
The beginnings, development and progress of this technical cooperation among ASEAN countries with funding help from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA), has been chronicled in a newly published booklet, "ASEAN Technical Cooperation in Pharmaceuticals: A Success Story."