Forward

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has made this project possible.  Within that organization we extend our sincerest appreciation to Dr. Salwa Al Bitar and Mr. David Piet, for their continuous support in implementing optimal health sector reform in Jordan.  In addition, we express our sincerest gratitude to His Excellency the Minister of Health, Eng. Said Darwazah, Chairman of the Rational Drug Use (RDU) Advisory Board, and other board members for all their support and promotion of rational drug use efforts in Jordan.  Moreover, we extend our thanks to the RDU Technical Committee members and RDU-JFDA unit staff, who were charged with reviewing and updating the Jordan Rational Drug List and National Drug Formulary. Their level of commitment and dedication to this effort has been exemplary.  Finally, we would like to thank our colleagues in the Partners for Health Reform Plus (PHRplus) Jordan for their significant contributions towards the completion of this project. 

The Partners for Health Reform Plus (PHRplus), in collaboration with the Jordanian Ministry of Health (MOH), the Joint Procurement Directorate (JPD) and the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), has been providing technical assistance towards the development of a comprehensive Rational Drug Use (RDU) strategy in Jordan – since 2004.  A consensus-driven approach has been utilized, one that involved the direct participation and collaboration of key stakeholders and organizations.  PHRplus’ role has been multifaceted; however, it has primarily consisted of designing, facilitating and implementing the following major activities: organizational reforms that included the formation of the Jordan National Drug Formulary (JNDF) Advisory Board, and JNDF Technical Committees, as well as the establishment of the Rational Drug Use Unit within the JFDA.  Within this framework, the project has achieved several notable accomplishments: appointment of the Chairperson of the JNDF Advisory Board (tasked with leading RDU process); the appointment of ninety Technical Committee members (tasked with revising and updating the Rational Drug List and National Drug Formulary); conducting several  Advisory Board and Technical Committees meetings, designing and facilitating the implementation of several notable national RDU workshops; on-going capacity building efforts for Rational Drug Use Unit personnel, as well as facilitating the completion and reproduction of Jordan Rational Drug List and National Drug Formulary. 

Completion of the Rational Drug List and the National Drug Formulary simply represents one step forward in the promotion and implementation of an effective rational drug use strategy in Jordan. To assure the sustainability of this effort, it is imperative that key policy components should be developed and supported.  For example, standard clinical practice guidelines, hospital-based pharmacy and therapeutic committees, the effective monitoring of drug utilization, and pharmacovigilence policies must be actively implemented, along with the training and education of providers throughout the country.  With these policies in place, along with the continued financial and political support of key stakeholders and organizations, we are convinced at PHRplus that the government of Jordan will realize its efforts to become a regional leader in both the promotion and implementation of the rational use of pharmaceuticals.

Dwayne A. Banks, Ph.D.

Project Director

PHRplus Jordan