Editorial: Strengthening the Local Pharmaceutical Industry: A Vital Pillar of Universal Health Coverage

Abstract

The desire for health and wellbeing has been a perpetual struggle for mankind since time immemorial. This doctrine derives from the recognition that effective healthcare requires proper infrastructure, adequate resources, quality medicines as well as trained and competent work force operating in a supportive sociopolitical framework. Health represents the epitome of basic human needs according to Maslow's matrix and is the proviso for robust economic, cultural, religious and political ecosystems. Over the past several millennia, socioeconomic disparities have defined healthcare with the nobles and gentry receiving extraordinary care while the masses lacked structured medical systems. History is replete with indicative metrics on infant mortality, impact of deadly epidemics/pandemics, life expectancy and human rights delineations that conspicuously demonstrate this distorted healthcare landscape. Royalty and nobility enjoyed physician, surgical, apothecary and nursing services beyond the reach of the commoners. For instance, the experimental use of chloroform (by inhalation) on Queen Victoria to allay labor pain in 1853, attained the royal seal of approval and established chloroform a la reine anesthetic.