Evaluation of national drug policy in Sudan: regulatory privatisation, social welfare services and its alternatives

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyse and determine the opinion of a group of pharmacists who are the owners or shareholders in the Sudanese medicine importing companies and their perception concerning the effects of the government’s new Pharmacy, Poisons, Cosmetics and Medical Devices Act has had on the quality of medicines in Sudan.Methods: The study proposal was discussed to identify and improve the quality of medicines in Sudan. The survey was deliberately drug importers biased, as low quality medicines from informal sources will affect their business. The authors then designed a self-administered questionnaire of 14 close-ended questions and one open question. The information necessary to conduct the evaluation was collected from 30 pharmacists who are the owners or shareholders in medicines’ importing companies. The participants were selected randomly.Results: 89% of respondents considered the medicines on the Sudanese market are generally of good quality. The design of the research itself may be considered inadequate with regard to selection process.Conclusions: However, the authors believe it provides enough evidence, and the current pharmaceutical regulations have some loopholes. The Pharmacy, Poisons, Cosmetics and Medical Devices Act-2001 and its regulation should be enforced. The overall set-up including the Act itself needs to be revised.