Document Detail


Expiry of medicines in supply outlets in Uganda.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20428373     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PROBLEM: The expiry of medicines in the supply chain is a serious threat to the already constrained access to medicines in developing countries.
APPROACH: We investigated the extent of, and the main contributing factors to, expiry of medicines in medicine supply outlets in Kampala and Entebbe, Uganda. A cross-sectional survey of six public and 32 private medicine outlets was done using semi-structured questionnaires.
LOCAL SETTING: The study area has 19 public medicine outlets (three non-profit wholesalers, 16 hospital stores/pharmacies), 123 private wholesale pharmacies and 173 retail pharmacies, equivalent to about 70% of the country's pharmaceutical businesses. Our findings indicate that medicines prone to expiry include those used for vertical programmes, donated medicines and those with a slow turnover.
RELEVANT CHANGES: Awareness about the threat of expiry of medicines to the delivery of health services has increased. We have adapted training modules to emphasize management of medicine expiry for pharmacy students, pharmacists and other persons handling medicines. Our work has also generated more research interest on medicine expiry in Uganda.
LESSONS LEARNED: Even essential medicines expire in the supply chain in Uganda. Sound coordination is needed between public medicine wholesalers and their clients to harmonize procurement and consumption as well as with vertical programmes to prevent duplicate procurement. Additionally, national medicine regulatory authorities should enforce existing international guidelines to prevent dumping of donated medicine. Medicine selection and quantification should be matched with consumer tastes and prescribing habits. Lean supply and stock rotation should be considered.
Authors:
Josephine Katabaazi Nakyanzi; Freddy Eric Kitutu; Hussein Oria; Pakoyo Fadhiru Kamba
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Bulletin of the World Health Organization     Volume:  88     ISSN:  1564-0604     ISO Abbreviation:  Bull. World Health Organ.     Publication Date:  2010 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-04-29     Completed Date:  2010-07-15     Revised Date:  2011-08-25    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7507052     Medline TA:  Bull World Health Organ     Country:  Switzerland    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  154-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Cross-Sectional Studies
Drugs, Essential / supply & distribution*
Equipment and Supplies
Humans
Time Factors
Uganda
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Drugs, Essential

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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