Evaluation of Cold Chain Management Performance for Temperature-Sensitive Pharmaceuticals at Public Health Facilities Supplied by the Jimma Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency Hub, Southwest Ethiopia: Pharmaceuticals Logistic Management Perspective Using a Multicentered, Mixed-Method Approach.

Diriba Feyisa,Fikadu Ejeta,Alem Endeshaw,Awol Jemal,Temesgen Aferu,Rizky Abdulah

doi:10.1155/2021/5167858

Diriba Feyisa, Fikadu Ejeta + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5167858

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Abstract

Background Effective and efficient cold chain management maximizes utilization of healthcare resources, reduces cold chain products wastage, and improves the quality of health services. It eventually guarantees that clients receive cold chain products they need at service delivery points. The objective of this study was to evaluate cold chain management performance for temperature-sensitive medicines at public health facilities in Southwest Ethiopia supplied by the Jimma Pharmaceuticals Fund and Supply Agency hub. Method and Materials. The study used an institution-based cross-sectional study design. Forty-seven (47) public health facilities in Southwest Ethiopia were evaluated using checklists adopted from the Logistic Indicators Assessment Tool, Vaccine Management Assessment Tool, and Logistic System Assessment Tool. Results The study revealed that the mean availability of essential cold chain products was 72.1 ± 14.8% while the average stock-out rate was 26.2 ± 8.6%. The median stock-out duration was 23 ± 21 days for all visited public health facilities. Two hundred and sixty-three (43.06 ± 15.3%) of the public health facilities' stock records were found accurate, and the wastage rate due to expiration was 9.2 ± 7.8% for all visited health facilities. Thirty public health facilities (63.8 ± 36.2%) had acceptable storage conditions. Conclusions and Recommendations. Supply chain performance at the study facilities was not adequate overall, and focused efforts need to be directed at managing the availability of critical cold chain medicines. Some cold chain management challenges demand the attention of the top management, while the rest can be addressed by operational management at the facilities through provision of appropriate training and supervision of the cold chain pharmaceutical handlers.

Highlights

Access to essential health services is crucial for improving the health of citizens [1]. e success of the essential health programs such as expanded program on immunization (EPI), reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health services (RMNCAHS), diabetic care, and Human Immune Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) care services are dependent on effective cold chain management [2,3,4,5].Temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals are products of perishable nature and require beholding and distribution in Advances in Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences a controlled environment. ey include ergometrine, oxytocin, and insulin, vaccines, cold chain supplies, and diagnostic reagents (Rapid HIV test kit)
Cold chain management performance has not been extensively evaluated in Ethiopia similar to many developing countries. erefore, the current study is believed to give some insights into and will help to improve the cold chain management performances at public health facilities in the study area and other regions with similar characteristics to the studied facilities
E primary reason for holding stock in the pharmaceuticals supply system is to ensure the availability of essential items almost all the time. e mean availability of temperature-sensitive medicines in public health facilities in the current study was 72.1%. is finding corroborates a nationwide survey of the pharmaceutical sector in Ethiopia, Dar es Salaam, and Tanzania’s mainland [36,37,38]

Summary

Introduction

Access to essential health services is crucial for improving the health of citizens [1]. e success of the essential health programs such as expanded program on immunization (EPI), reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health services (RMNCAHS), diabetic care, and Human Immune Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) care services are dependent on effective cold chain management [2,3,4,5].Temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals are products of perishable nature and require beholding and distribution in Advances in Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences a controlled environment. ey include ergometrine, oxytocin, and insulin, vaccines, cold chain supplies, and diagnostic reagents (Rapid HIV test kit). Ey include ergometrine, oxytocin, and insulin, vaccines, cold chain supplies, and diagnostic reagents (Rapid HIV test kit). Potency of these products may become less or even lost when exposed to temperature outside the recommended range. Cold chain management is a means of warranting proper cold chain maintenance, a continuous and cohesive process to ensure availability and maintain the potency of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals [9]. E objective of this study was to evaluate cold chain management performance for temperaturesensitive medicines at public health facilities in Southwest Ethiopia supplied by the Jimma Pharmaceuticals Fund and Supply Agency hub. Chain performance at the study facilities was not adequate overall, and focused efforts need to be directed at managing the availability of critical cold chain medicines. Some cold chain management challenges demand the attention of the top management, while the rest can be addressed by operational management at the facilities through provision of appropriate training and supervision of the cold chain pharmaceutical handlers

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