After the profound economic and political changes most of the East European countries started market-oriented reforms. During the last 10 years rapid development of the private pharmaceutical sector and a slow privatisation proces s was observed. The balance between the private and public sector became very important for achieving NDP goals. The goal of this study is to evaluate the availability and development of the NDP structures in East European countries – Bulgaria (BG), Romania (Rom), Macedonia (Mac), Bosnia Herzegovina (BiH). For the assessment of the availability of NDP structures a questionnaire focused on seven m ain NDP components was used. These components are: legislation and regulations; essential drug selection and drug registration; drug a llocation in the health budget/public sector financing policy; public sector procurement procedures; public sector distribution and logistics; price policy; information and continuing education on drug use. According to the survey the most developed NDP structures are drug legislation and regula tions (incl. quality control), drug registration and drug distribution. We can assume that the people have access to different drugs of appropriate quality and in time. The systems for public drug financing, procurement and price policy are under developing or not efficient enough. The financial availability of drugs is difficult. There is a lack of objective drug information and postgraduate education is not oriented on the ED. It means that there is no guarantee for rational drug prescription and usage of drugs on the markets.

        Key words: national drug policy, pharmaceutical sector reform, drug legislation, essential drugs