This proceeding summarizes discussion points and implementation proposals from a consultative workshop on “Research Framework on Pharmaceutical Systems and Access to Medicines”, hosted by Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI) during 26-27 August 2009 at Siam City Hotel, Bangkok.  An opening remark by Professor Dr. Vijarn Panich, the HSRI Board shed light on an urgent need for quality research framework on pharmaceutical systems that are relevant to the national policies.  The framework may cover around 5-6 project  packages that address research strategies in-depth through the holistic picture of Thai society.        

A panel discussion on “Current Situation of Pharmaceutical Systems in Thailand: Catching up with the Global Trends” began with an elaboration on impacts of the global drug patent systems on the domestic generic drug industries. Health service behavior related to drug utilization like over-prescribing of the single-source, non-essential, and expensive drugs under Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS) is an obvious contention between the responsiveness and efficiency goals of the health systems.  Other systems issues included drug pricing that does not reflect the true cost structure.  The discussion ended with description of influencing factors to pharmaceutical systems and knowledge management tasks related to pharmaceutical systems research.   

The current situation of pharmaceutical systems research presented was based on a rapid review of peer-review  publications during the past 5 years by the HSRI and a summary from the ThaiHealth’s Plan on Mechanism for Monitoring and Development of Pharmaceutical Systems (Kor Por Yor)’s databases.  The conclusion was scarcity of the research at the national level and the research weakness due to the use of non-systematic approaches and under-utilization of the study results.  

Two sessions of small group discussion proposed some better approaches to pharmaceutical  systems research management.  These include (1) a precondition of the clear research direction, (2) a facilitating channel for access to research funding agencies, (3) a platform of consultation with stakeholders or policy makers for upgrading and translational research, (4) building research teamwork within and between academic institutes, central organizations and service organizations, to learn from senior mentors, and establishing knowledge sharing networks, (5) developing pharmaceutical systems research network, and (6) setting up an information center of  pharmaceutical systems by HSRI coordination to facilitate researchers access to national databases.  

The concluding discussion resulted in a proposal of establishing a coordinating body between available networks of pharmaceutical systems research for knowledge generation and management, which includes capacity building missions based on the UNDP’s Individual-Node-Network-Environment model for translating knowledge to changes.  

The pretest and post test feedback by the participants revealed the research priority in the following areas: (1) formulation and implementation of drug distribution and utilization policies; (2) study of rational drug use behavior; (3) drug reimbursement and payment under health insurance systems; (4) monitoring of drug expenditures; (5) evaluation of clinical outcomes of drug use.  The HSRI as the host for the meeting should lay out a clear research framework related to the above mentioned areas to prevent fragmentation and duplication.  This can be fulfilled by orientating the pharmaceutical systems research towards the health systems strengthening framework and arranging the mentorship platform for junior and senior researchers.