Drug Supply Chain Management and Implementation of Health Reform Plan in Teaching Hospital Pharmacies of Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Drugs play a strategic role as a health commodity. Thus, the supply chain management of drugs is an important issue to reducing costs and thereby improving patient health. Objective: This study evaluated the status of drug supply chain management and health reform in the pharmaceutical sector of teaching hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in pharmacies of teaching hospitals in Ahwaz, Iran in 2015. Data was collected through a checklist extracted from the Evaluation Checklist of the Food and Drug Deputy and related articles. The study checklist examined six dimensions of the Evaluation Checklist, including drug storage, administrative regulations, preparation of medicines, drug distribution, taking medication, and implementation of health reforms in the pharmaceutical sector. The content validity of the checklist was confirmed by experts and pharmaceutical specialists. Data was analyzed for descriptive characteristics such as frequency and percentage using EXCEL version 2010 software. Results: The findings show that hospitals met standards for administrative regulations with 78.5% and preparation of medicines with 77.25%. The dimensions of drug storage with 74.75%, taking medication with 74.25%, implementation of health reforms with 71.5%, and drug distribution with 62.5% were in a near-standard state. Conclusion: Supply chain management systems of medicines in teaching hospitals are near-standard. To improve hospitals, offering proper training to employees, using the fixed-rate shopping system, and providing facilities to patients are recommended.