Role of Essential Drug List in Effective Management of Essential Anti- Malarial Drugs in Healthcare System of Pakistan Challenges in Policy Development to Practice
Background: Essential anti-malarial drugs are often not available in healthcare facilities when patients need them.
Objective: The study aimed to assess role of essential drug list in drug management including availability and stock outs of anti-malarial drugs among public and private primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in two cities of Pakistan; Islamabad (Federal capital) and Rawalpindi (twin city).
Methods: A comparative, cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the availability, stock outs and management of anti-malarial drugs records in fifty public and private primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in the twin cities, namely Islamabad (Federal capital) and Rawalpindi. Pre-validated tools i.e. WHO facility indicator form and USAID inventory indicator and drug stock outs form were used to collect data. A structured questionnaire was designed for data collection on drug management from the personnel involved in drug management among both public and private primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities. After the data collection, data was coded and analyzed by using SPSS version 16.
Results: Essential drug list was not available in any of the healthcare facility. Chloroquine and sulfadoxine/ pyrimethamine tablets were the most commonly available anti-malarial drugs in most of the public and private tertiary, secondary and primary healthcare facilities. On the other hand chloroquine injections were not available in any of the public or private tertiary, secondary and primary healthcare facility. Major stock-outs of anti-malarial drugs were seen in both healthcare facilities but the situation was more prevalent in the public healthcare facilities.
Conclusion: The results of the present study conclude that drug management follows different methods in both public and private healthcare facilities in the twin cities. Gaps in drug management including procurement, quantification, inventory control and drug stock outs must be addressed to improve the availability of drugs in healthcare system of Pakistan.
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