Formulary Management Activities and Practice Implications Among Public Sector Hospital Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committees in a South African Province.

Moliehi Matlala,Andries G S Gous,Brian Godman,Johanna C Meyer

doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.01267

Abstract

IntroductionThe World Health Organization identified Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committees (PTCs) at district and hospital levels as one of the pivotal models to promote rational use of medicines (RUM). This is endorsed by the Government in South Africa. Formulary development and management is one of the main functions of PTCs. This study aimed to describe the formulary management activities among PTCs in public hospitals in Gauteng Province, South Africa, following initiatives to promote RUM in South Africa.MethodsQualitative, nonparticipatory, observational study, observing 26 PTC meetings. Data were coded and categorized using NVivo9® qualitative data analysis software. Themes and sub-themes were developed. The themes and sub-themes on formulary management are the principal focus of this paper.ResultsMore than half of the observed PTCs reviewed their formulary lists. There was variation in the review process among institutions providing different levels of care. Various aspects were considered for formulary management especially requests for medicines to be added. These included cost considerations (mainly focusing on acquisition costs), evidence-based evaluation of clinical trials, patient safety, clinical experience and changes in the National Essential Medicines List (NEML). The tertiary PTCs mostly dealt with applications for new non-EML medicines, while PTCs in the other hospitals mainly requested removal or addition of EML medicines to the list.ConclusionThis is the first study from Gauteng Province, South Africa, reporting on how decisions are actually taken to include or exclude medicines onto formularies within public sector hospitals providing different levels of care. Various approaches are adopted at different levels of care when adding to- or removing medicines from the formulary lists. Future programs should strengthen PTCs in specialized aspects of formulary management. A more structured approach to formulary review at the local PTC level should be encouraged in line with the national approach when reviewing possible additions to the NEML.

Highlights

The World Health Organization identified Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committees (PTCs) at district and hospital levels as one of the pivotal models to promote rational use of medicines (RUM)
It was noteworthy and encouraging that the majority of PTCs in this study reviewed their formulary lists on an ongoing basis in line with American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) guidelines (Tyler et al, 2008)
In view of our methodology, we do believe our findings are robust providing direction for the future. We believe this is the first study conducted in the public healthcare sector in South Africa that has comprehensively looked at the processes followed by PTCs in their activities

Summary

Introduction

The World Health Organization identified Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committees (PTCs) at district and hospital levels as one of the pivotal models to promote rational use of medicines (RUM). This is endorsed by the Government in South Africa. Formularies are seen as important for delineating and directing appropriate prescribing enhanced by trust in their development (Rucker and Schiff, 1990; Pillans et al, 1992; Eriksen et al, 2018) This is especially important when the principal means of physician education is via pharmaceutical companies (Spurling et al, 2010; Civaner, 2012; Jacob, 2018; Fadare et al, 2018a; Fadlallah et al, 2018)

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