Abstract:
Medicines are the most significant tool that society possesses to prevent, alleviate, and
cure disease.1 Millions of people especially in least developed and developing countries
rely on affordable medicines produced in other countries to stay alive. It is estimated
that between 1.7 and 2 billion people worldwide have inadequate or no access to lifesaving medicines. Low-income levels, weak healthcare systems, rising costs of medical
supplies and poor custom administration have been identified as some of the chief
culprits of impeded access.2 After the presence of trained health professionals,
medicines are the single most critical element in the maintenance of health and the
successful treatment of disease and illness. Shortages of medicines because of several
factors undermine the ability of healthcare workers to respond appropriately to patient
needs and this in turn often erodes the confidence and trust patients and their families
will have on local health systems. Most illnesses, especially transmittable diseases, are
either preventable or to some extent treatable with a relatively small number of
medicines. 3However, accessibility of such medicine is being hampered by several
factors which are becoming global concern for the past of couple of decades.
