Libya's Medical Supply Organisation has introduced the Libyan National Formulary, establishing a unified list of approved prescription medicines. The move aims to strengthen drug security and modernise the country's pharmaceutical management.
The Medical Supply Organisation (MSO) has announced the launch of the Libyan National Formulary (LNF), marking a significant step in reforming Libya's pharmaceutical sector. The LNF is a unified, official list of prescription medicines approved for use across the country, intended to standardise drug selection and improve the reliability of medicine supply.
According to the MSO, the creation of the LNF is the result of collaboration with the Pharmacy Department of the Ministry of Health, the Drug Control Department of the National Centre for Food and Drug Control, the General Syndicate of Pharmacists, and other relevant entities, including the National Centre for Disease Control and private pharmaceutical companies. National experts from various health fields also contributed to the process.
Unified Reference for Medicine Selection
The LNF is designed to serve as a single national reference for the selection, prescribing, dispensing, and use of medications. The MSO stated that the list is based on scientific evidence and established treatment protocols, aiming to ensure that only medicines meeting safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness criteria are included. This approach is expected to influence which drugs and brands are imported into Libya, and from which countries.
Shift Toward Comprehensive Drug Management
The introduction of the LNF represents a shift in Libya's approach to pharmaceutical management. Rather than focusing solely on the procurement and distribution of medicines, the new system encompasses the entire drug cycle-from identifying needs and evaluating medications to procurement, storage, distribution, prescribing, dispensing, and ongoing monitoring. The MSO emphasised that previous attempts to establish such a formulary faced resistance from medical importers and were not successfully implemented by earlier governments.
The LNF is expected to enhance drug security, reduce fragmentation in the pharmaceutical sector, and provide a more transparent and accountable framework for medicine supply in Libya. The next phase will involve the practical implementation of the formulary across public health institutions and monitoring its impact on drug availability and quality.
