During the past 50 years, pharmaceutical products and vaccines have revolutionized health care. Yet, because of budget constraints and poor infrastructure, hundreds of millions of people in developing countries do not have access to even basic essential drugs. Worldwide, millions of adults and children die each year from diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and more recently, HIV & AIDS, that could have been treated or prevented, if effective and affordable drugs and vaccines had been available and used properly.

In 1983, recognizing the key role of pharmaceuticals in delivering high-quality health care in developing countries, MSH formally established the Center for Pharmaceutical Management (formerly known as the Drug Management Program). Today, the Center continues its commitment to providing high-quality technical assistance and training in pharmaceutical management worldwide. CPM has about 300 staff members worldwide, most working out of its primary office in the Washington, DC area, together with a roster of more than 50 expert consultants who work closely to build or improve the infrastructure needed to effectively purchase, store, deliver, and use quality, essential medicines.