Management of medicines is everybody’s business
Feb 02, 2011
THE Medicines and Health Service Delivery Monitoring Unit has recently released its findings on Uganda’s health sector performance and a key cross-cutting issue arising is poor management of medicines.
By Gloria Seruwagi
THE Medicines and Health Service Delivery Monitoring Unit has recently released its findings on Uganda’s health sector performance and a key cross-cutting issue arising is poor management of medicines.
Most people think the management of medicines is the duty of clinical and support staff in health facilities like doctors, pharmacists, dispensers or stores staff.
However, there needs to be a shift in attitude where medicine management is thought of as a system or process that monitors how medicines are used everywhere.
Proper management of medicines helps to prevent, detect and address medicine-related problems as well as ensure optimum utilisation. However, the reality in Uganda is that a lot of medicines have been diverted and pilfered by unscrupulous people then sold in private clinics — even when clearly marked “Government of Uganda, not for sale’.
In some areas, unsuspecting patients have been given expired medicines, some with altered dates. Incessant stock-outs were found in nearly all (98%) health units visited.
The stock-out crisis in Uganda is a well-documented issue. National Medical Stores’ review of its distribution strategy has partly improved the availability of medicines at many health facilities. This is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done.
The Medicines Monitoring Unit’s report noted that in some areas delivered medicines still remained undistributed to health facilities for long periods.
Prompt and adequate deliveries are integral to proper management and use of medicines and this needs to be done both from the central and district level.
Health facilities need to ensure proper documentation and detailed record keeping of how they manage their medicines from the stores to the dispensing area and also give patients adequate information where medicines are involved.
Public vigilance is also required. People need to be able to identify government medicines and know that they should not be sold. They need to check expiry dates on medicines given at any health unit in order not be harmed.
The public also needs to know when medicine deliveries are done and how they are utilised. This will make their service providers accountable.
The public need to know the minimum requirements for drug shops or clinics so that they can asess whether they are capable of providing them with appropriate prescriptions. They also need to know how to use medicines properly and refrain from self-prescription. If drug inspectors diligently did their part, we would not be worried about the existence of illegal clinics and drug shops.
Although the medicine story in Uganda is not good, there are opportunities for improvement. The first step should be an attitude change from the service providers, patients, careers policy makers, leaders and the public. We can all achieve gains both directly and indirectly and we would be able to see excellent healthcare come true.
The writer is a public health specialist, working with the Drug and Medicines Inspections Unit
THE Medicines and Health Service Delivery Monitoring Unit has recently released its findings on Uganda’s health sector performance and a key cross-cutting issue arising is poor management of medicines.
Most people think the management of medicines is the duty of clinical and support staff in health facilities like doctors, pharmacists, dispensers or stores staff.
However, there needs to be a shift in attitude where medicine management is thought of as a system or process that monitors how medicines are used everywhere.
Proper management of medicines helps to prevent, detect and address medicine-related problems as well as ensure optimum utilisation. However, the reality in Uganda is that a lot of medicines have been diverted and pilfered by unscrupulous people then sold in private clinics — even when clearly marked “Government of Uganda, not for sale’.
In some areas, unsuspecting patients have been given expired medicines, some with altered dates. Incessant stock-outs were found in nearly all (98%) health units visited.
The stock-out crisis in Uganda is a well-documented issue. National Medical Stores’ review of its distribution strategy has partly improved the availability of medicines at many health facilities. This is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done.
The Medicines Monitoring Unit’s report noted that in some areas delivered medicines still remained undistributed to health facilities for long periods.
Prompt and adequate deliveries are integral to proper management and use of medicines and this needs to be done both from the central and district level.
Health facilities need to ensure proper documentation and detailed record keeping of how they manage their medicines from the stores to the dispensing area and also give patients adequate information where medicines are involved.
Public vigilance is also required. People need to be able to identify government medicines and know that they should not be sold. They need to check expiry dates on medicines given at any health unit in order not be harmed.
The public also needs to know when medicine deliveries are done and how they are utilised. This will make their service providers accountable.
The public need to know the minimum requirements for drug shops or clinics so that they can asess whether they are capable of providing them with appropriate prescriptions. They also need to know how to use medicines properly and refrain from self-prescription. If drug inspectors diligently did their part, we would not be worried about the existence of illegal clinics and drug shops.
Although the medicine story in Uganda is not good, there are opportunities for improvement. The first step should be an attitude change from the service providers, patients, careers policy makers, leaders and the public. We can all achieve gains both directly and indirectly and we would be able to see excellent healthcare come true.
The writer is a public health specialist, working with the Drug and Medicines Inspections Unit