Medicine Management

Medicine management

HEALTH SYSTEM THINKING

JAziaAccess to medicines and their appropriate use must be a core focus for any effort to strengthen health systems and to advance universal health coverage.Medicines and health commodities are one of six health system building blocks.Yet medicines and health technologies do not lie in isolation from the other components of a health system.A health systems    approach to medicines facilitates the understanding of the system’s integral relations and connections, allowing for      innovative and contextual responses where needed. 

Read more: HEALTH SYSTEM THINKING

NATIONAL POLICY FRAMEWORK

The policy and legal framework for the management of medicine in Tanzania provides guidance for the sector and is based on the National Health Policy, the National Medicines Policy (NMP) and its Masterplan, the National Essential Medicines List (NEML) and the regularly revised National Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG).

The ruling party manifesto emphasizes the constant availability of all essential health commodities. Big Results Now (2015-2020) targets ensuring 100% health commodities stock availability. The National Public Private Partnership Policy promotes public-private partnership in the pharmaceutical sector. HSSP IV emphasises the importance of well-stocked health facilities in terms of medicines, supplies and staff. Specifically, the plan aims at strengthening the management of medicines and health products and their supply systems at all levels.

HPSS supports the Government of Tanzania in realizing these objective

 

STRATEGY TO STRENGTHEN MEDICINES MANAGEMENT

HPSS applies a multi-levelled strategy to strengthen the supply side of health care

  • A Prime Vendor System (Jazia PVS) as a complementary procurement pathway for continuous medicine supply.
  • Implementation of a peer assessment tool for facility health workers
  • Clinical training in the management of main illnesses in primary health care
  • Support of the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children in the revision of national Standard Treatment Guidelines
  • A process of peer coaching for supply management that is funded through the district’s own resources 
  • An accredited one-year certificate course for vocational training of pharmaceutical Dispensers in rural areas in collaboration with St. John’s University of Tanzania
  • Implementation of a medicine and financial audit system to increase accountability and transparency
  • Capacity building of health care workers in supply chain management with a focus on the national Integrated Logistic system (ILS) and eILMS

 strategy

ACHIEVEMENTS OF HPSS IN MEDICINES SUPPLY AND MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

JPV2

During Phase 1 and 2 (2011 to 2019), HPSS strengthened the management of medicines and health supplies and related services so that vulnerable people can access the health care they need. 

  • Improved availability of essential medicines: from 53% in October 2011 to over 90% in July 2019 in the three pilot regions
  • Clinical staff of all Dodoma region facilities trained in new STG (400 clinicians)
  • More transparency and accountability in procurement and payment procedures related to medicines
  • Increased human resources for health: The Dispenser course with St. John’s University mitigates shortage in rural areas with 668 students enrolled, 466 completed and 388 graduated as of end of 2019
  • The Jazia PVS complements the national Medical Stores Department (MSD) and successfully engages the private sector
  • National roll-out of Jazia PVS in all regions of mainland Tanzania and 32’123 staff trained at all levels

 

PUBLICATIONS

  1. Kuwawenaruwa et al, Cost and cost drivers of Jazia PVS, BMJ Global Health 2020
  2. Kuwawenaruwa et al, Acceptability of Jazia PVS,IJHPM 2020
  3. Kuwawenaruwa et al, Role of accountability in Jazia PVS, JOPPP 2020
  4. Wiedenmayer et al, Impact of hand hygiene intervention, ARIC 2020
  5. Kuwawenaruwa et al, Medicine availability and health services utilization,HPP2020
  6. Francetic et al, Impact of social accountability on availability of EM, JHE 2019
  7. Wiedenmayer et al, Jazia PVS-from pilot to scale,JOPPP 2019
  8. Wiedenmayer, Beispiele der Pharmazeutischen EZA, Pharmacon 2018
  9. Wiedenmayer, Case Study 6: Complementing Public sector Medicine in Tanzania 2018
  10. Wiedenmayer et al, The reality of task shifting in medicines,JOPPP 2015
  11. Ntuli et al-Reforming supportive supervision in Dodoma,IJP 2014
  12. Teresa Widmer_Nadel,Essay medical supply management  2014

BRIEFS

  1. Adherence to STG RUM_brief_revision 2018
  2. Auditing_brief_revision 2018
  3. Baseline survey Dodoma_brief_revision 2018
  4. Complementary supply with PV_brief_revision 2018
  5. Dispenser course_brief_revision 2018
  6. HRH for pharmaceutical management_brief_revision 2018
  7. ILS training_brief_revision 2018
  8. Medicines and health system strengthening_brief_revision 2018
  9. Quality use of medicines RUM_brief_revision 2018
  10. Supportive supervision meds Dodoma_brief _revision 2018