Availability and prices of antimalarials and staffing levels in health facilities in Embu County, Kenya
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Date
2019Author
Ndwigah, S
Stergachis, A
Abuga, K
Mugo, H
Kibwage, I
Type
ArticleLanguage
en_USMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Effective treatment of malaria relies on the availability of quality medicines while
pricing is a major determinant of affordability. In addition, adequate numbers of
competent staff of different cadres is essential for a well-functioning health system
and effective health service delivery. The aim of the study was to determine the
availability and prices of antimalarial medicines as well as staffing levels in
healthcare facilities located in Embu County, Kenya. Antimalarials were sampled
from 11 public (government owned) facilities, 29 private pharmacies, 5 private-forprofit and 3 not-for-profit mission health facilities in May-June 2014. The majority
of public facilities (91%) had artemether-lumefantrine (AL) tablets in stock.
Government and mission facilities did not stock second line antimalarials or
sulfonamide-pyrimethamine (SP). All public facilities provided antimalarials freeof-charge to patients. Private pharmacies stocked a wider variety of antimalarials.
The facilities studied were stocked with recommended antimalarials both in the
private and public domains. No oral artemisinin monotherapies were encountered
during the study. Only 45% percent of public facilities employed pharmacists. Of
the remaining facilities, 27% employed pharmaceutical technologists while in the
rest of the facilities pharmaceuticals were in the custody of nurses. Notably, none of
the private-for-profit or mission facilities had pharmacists employed in their
establishments; one facility employed a pharmaceutical technologist, while the rest
were staffed by nurses. The number of private pharmacies superintended by
pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists were 7 (24%) and 22 (76%),
respectively.
URI
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ecajps/article/download/186167/175459http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/108103
Citation
Ndwigah, S., Stergachis, A., Abuga, K., Mugo, H., & Kibwage, I. (2019). Availability and Prices of Antimalarials and Staffing Levels in Health Facilities in Embu County, Kenya. East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 22(1), 26-34.Publisher
East and Central African Pharmaceutical Sciences