The World Health Organization (WHO) has initiated the Good Governance for Medicines (GGM) programme in an attempt to curb corruption in pharmaceutical sector systems by increasing transparency and accountability and promoting ethical practices. The GGM programme offers a three-step technical support package including: national transparency assessment, development of a national GGM framework and implementation.

In an effort to support countries in the Region to develop and promote a national programme on GGM, an introductory training workshop on transparency assessment for five countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region was held from 17 to 19 June 2012. The workshop brought together national assessors and government counterparts from five countries in the Region including Bahrain, Islamic Republic of Iran, occupied Palestinian territory, Tunisia, and Yemen.

Temporary advisers from several Member States in the Region and representatives from WHO headquarters and Regional Office for Africa contributed to the technical training. Countries participating in the training will embark on comprehensive assessment of transparency and vulnerability to corruption in their respective pharmaceutical sectors followed by a nationwide consultation process to develop a national GGM framework. The assessment will help countries to systematically address the gaps identified in the assessment and institutionalize national GGM programmes.