As part of the PAHO initiative on the renewal of primary health care, regional guidelines are being drafted for the development of pharmaceutical services as an integral part of health services based on primary health care.

By mandate of the 2004 Directing Council of PAHO/WHO resolution CD 45R7 addressing access to medicines, a Group of Specialists developed the document entitled: "Guidelines for the implementation of Strategies of Generic Medicines in Latin American and the Caribbean countries as a means to improve the access to medicines."

Motivated by the desire to eliminate corruption, pursuant to its Medicines Strategy 2004-2007, in 2004 WHO launched the Good Governance for Medicines Program to reduce corruption in entities in the pharmaceutical sector by adopting transparent and responsible administrative procedures and promoting ethical practices among health professionals.