AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL DRUG POLICIES

In: Development dialogue, Band 1, Heft 1, S. 148-192

Abstract

ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL DRUG POLICY TO BE FOUND IN THE WORLD TODAY IS IN AUSTRALIA. ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES IN THE FORMULATION OF AUSTRALIA'S SUCCESSFUL POLICY WAS THE DECISION IN THE 1950'S TO MAKE A SUPPLY OF LIFE-SAVING DRUGS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL CITIZENS. ANOTHER IMPORTANT BUILDING BLOCK WAS THE PRICE CONTROL MECHANISM ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING AND MAINTAINING A HIGH STANDARD IN PHARMACEUTICALS BY SUBSIDIZING ACCESS TO A BROAD RANGE OF PRODUCTS. HOWEVER, ONE IMPORTANT PROBLEM AREA, NAMELY THE RATIONAL USE OF DRUGS, HAS NOT YET BEEN PROPERLY DEALT WITH. THE TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT BE SUFFICIENT; THE APPROACHES MUST BE RE-EXAMINED AND SUPPLEMENTED BY CREATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHICH WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL THE DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.