PESHAWAR, Dec 4: The NWFP government has decided to implement the National Drug Policy in a phase-wise programme from 2002 to 2007 provided that funds are given to it by donor agencies as grants.

Provincial health secretary Salim Khan stated this, while inaugurating a two-day workshop on the national drug policy (NDP) here on Tuesday. Provincial health services director-general Brig Habibur Rehman also attended the workshop.

Mr Khan said the initiative to implement the NDP by the health ministry with the support of the World Health Organization in an organized manner needed to be appreciated.

“We agree with the contents of the master plan provided as a draft document as it contains all aspects to be taken care of for proper implementation of the NDP.”

Some of the activities identified in the draft plan could be resolved within available resources, he observed, but said owing to financial constraints, funding from donor agencies was needed to implement the policy.

The health secretary said the national essential drugs list had been completely implemented in all the government hospitals and all drugs purchases had been made according to the list.

He called upon the federal government to encourage the concept by registering drugs by their generic names, saying that the provincial government might require assistance from the donor agencies for strengthening the quality assurance system.