MANAGEMENT OF ANTIMALARIAL DRUGS IN THE URBAN PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN TANZANIA

Frequent drug shortage, poor storage conditions and inadequate knowledge of health care workers for inventory management are among the factors affecting the supply chain of antimalarial drugs in Tanzania. These factors largely contribute to poor quality, shortage and irrational use of antimalarial drugs in the public health facilities. The aim of this study was to assess the management of antimalarial drugs in the public health facilities in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania. Thirty two (32) pharmaceutical personnel were interviewed regarding management of antimalarial drugs in the health facilities. The average time stock-out of antimalarial drugs was assessed for the period of January to December 2010. Adequate storage conditions and handling of medicines procedures were also assessed. About two thirds of drug store managers had poor knowledge on quantification concept.  All drug store managers had inadequate knowledge on the concept of procurement, and there were no effective and efficient procurement systems in all the health facilities. The percentage time for stock-out of antimalarial drugs was 25% for Artemether-Lumefantrine (ALu), 25.7% for quinine tablets and 6.4% for quinine injections. All facilities had no cold storage facilities with temperature charts, and medicines were kept directly on the floor in most of the health facilities. Frequent stock-outs of ALu in the public health facilities is mainly due to poor pharmaceutical management of antimalarial medicines in these facilities. Provision of regular on-job training and continuing education among pharmaceutical personnel in the public health facilities is necessary to address this problem.