[Drugs in developing countries. Current status, problems and possible solutions].

Based mainly on economic, administrative and drug logistics indicators, the article critically reviews the use of drugs in less developed countries in the context of the global drug scene. The lack of balance in less developed countries (LDCs) between indicators of need and determinants of political, economic, professional, educational and sociocultural nature, including product marketing efforts is highlighted. Special emphasis is given to the global WHO Action Programme on Essential Drugs, its background, strategies, implementation and tentative impacts. Country case examples from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Kenya, Zimbabwe and the Gambia are used for illustration. Varying progress is made in about half the 110 LDCs which have formally adopted the WHO concepts. Delayed implementation, setbacks and failures are prevalent. These reflect financial and other resource constraints, political ambiguity, qualitative and quantitative deficiencies related to manpower and insufficient back-up measures of an educational and informative character. An orientation towards operational research based on competence-building according to needs and strategies is highly desirable. Accordingly a plea is made for multidisciplinary collaboration in North-South networks at university level.