ASSESSMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL STORE MANAGEMENT IN WOREDA HEALTH OFFICES OF WEST HARARGHE ZONE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

In order to ensure the prompt availability in adequate quantity of drugs at the time of need, they must be kept ready in stock. This requires good pharmaceutical store management and planning. The main purpose of this study was to assess the pharmaceutical store management practices in Habro, Darolebu, Odabultum, Gemechis and Chiro Woreda Health office pharmaceutical stores, West Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia. A district based prospective crosssectional study design was conducted using check lists prepared based on WHO criteria to assess the pharmaceutical store management. A total of five Woreda health office pharmaceutical stores were included in the study with response rate of 100 %. In all (n = 5) of the study stores, there were no fire extinguisher, ladder, refrigerator/ freezer/, ventilators, wall thermometers and computer. All the study stores had adequate lighting, functional locks, protected from direct sun light, roof ceiling and windows in a good repair and 4 of them were dry, adequately ventilated and shady. The study findings show that the drug storage, arrangement and issuing practice were found good in Habro, Darolebu and Gemechis and Chiro store but poor in odabultum store. There were no sufficient storage and reception area, in Habro, Darolebu and Odabultum, shelves in Habro, Odabultum and Chiro and floor pallets in Gemechis, Odabultum and Chiro stores. Bin cards and stock cards were used only in Habro and Chiro stores. There were no means of maintaining and recording the room temperature of the drug store in all of the study stores.