Access to essential medicines encompasses quality, safety and efficacy of drugs, as well as their availability, affordability and appropriate use. Addressing issues around access these medicines requires a comprehensive understanding of how pharmaceutical systems are organized and function. These country profiles presents how pharmaceutical systems in 14 countries in Asia and the Pacific – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam – are organized, regulated and financed to foster policies aimed at achieving universal and equitable access to essential medicines.. The country profiles outline resources, structures and processes relating to ensuring availability and accessibility of pharmaceuticals in specific country settings and their interactions with the health-care system.