Who has responsibility for the supply system, and how it should
be structured, are important choices with many political and
economic ramifications. It is very important that the drug
policy defines the future supply system and the role of the
government. There are several options, and which one is chosen
will depend on existing structures, the balance between public
and private sectors, and other factors. In some countries
problems with the central medical stores and the public supply
system have been overcome by contracting some of the work out to
private operators while maintaining a centralized structure. For
example, the transport of drugs can often be left to the private
sector. In other countries different structures are used. An
autonomous or semi-autonomous agency is set up to serve as a
supply agency not directly managed by the government. The
objective of such a system is to combine the efficiency of the
private sector with the public health approach and the economies
of scale that can be achieved