WHO Department of Technical Cooperation for Essential Drugs and Traditional Medicine

Department of Technical Cooperation for Essential Drugs and 

Traditional Medicine (HTP/TCM)

The Department of Technical Cooperation for Essential Drugs and Traditional Medicine (TCM) is the lead department in WHO for technical cooperation with countries on medicines issues. Using the WHO Medicines Strategy 2004-2007 as its framework, TCM’s priority in technical collaboration is improving access and rational use of quality essential medicines, including traditional and complementary/alternative medicines.
TCM works with the the Department of Policy and Standards Of Medicines (PSM), WHO Regional and Country Offices in order to provide and coordinate relevant technical support to countries.

In response to country requests, TCM makes WHO resources and experts available for:

• Sharing policy and technical advice
• Advocating for and building capacity on medicines issues
• Encouraging appropriate research and development
• Promoting partnerships and coordination of the many parties working to improve access to medicines
• Monitoring country pharmaceutical situations

TCM is also responsible for:

• Regular monitoring of the impact of WHO work in medicines
• WHO’s normative work on traditional and complementary/alternative medicines
• WHO’s normative work on international, regional and bilateral trade agreements as they relate to access to medicines

Mission

TCM's mission is to support Member States in country, intercountry, and regional efforts to develop, implement and monitor the effectiveness of national medicines policies, guidelines, strategies and plans that ensure the availability, affordability and rational use of essential medicines and traditional and complementary/alternative medicines that are safe, effective and of good quality.

Objective

The overall objective of TCM is to contribute to improving health and saving lives by supporting countries and regions to develop, implement and monitor national policies on medicines, including traditional medicines and complementary/alternative medicines, based on:

• Equity of access to essential medicines, traditional medicines and complementary/alternative medicines
• Rational use of essential medicines, traditional medicines and complementary/alternative medicines
• Quality, safety and efficacy of essential medicines, traditional medicines and complementary/alternative medicines; and that
• Consider the context of international, regional and bilateral trade agreements.