Inefficient procurement processes undermine access to medicines in the Western Cape Province of South Africa
Background. South Africa (SA) has experienced several stock-outs of life-saving medicines for the treatment of major chronic infectious and non-communicable diseases in the public sector. Objective. To identify the causes of stock-outs and to illustrate how they undermine access to medicines (ATM)...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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South African Medical Association
2017-07-01
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| Series: | South African Medical Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/11937/8102 |
| _version_ | 1797370281547792384 |
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| author | Bvudzai P Magadzire Kim Ward Henry M J Leng David Sanders |
| author_facet | Bvudzai P Magadzire Kim Ward Henry M J Leng David Sanders |
| author_sort | Bvudzai P Magadzire |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. South Africa (SA) has experienced several stock-outs of life-saving medicines for the treatment of major chronic infectious and non-communicable diseases in the public sector.
Objective. To identify the causes of stock-outs and to illustrate how they undermine access to medicines (ATM) in the Western Cape Province, SA.
Methods. This qualitative study was conducted with a sample of over 70 key informants (frontline health workers, sub-structure and provincial health service managers). We employed the critical incident technique to identify significant occurrences in our context, the consequences of which impacted on access to medicines during a defined period. Stock-outs were identified as one such incident, and we explored when, where and why they occurred, in order to inform policy and practice.
Results. Medicines procurement is a centralised function in SA. Health service managers unanimously agreed that stock-outs resulted from the following inefficiencies at the central level: (i) delays in awarding of pharmaceutical tenders; (ii) absence of contracts for certain medicines appearing on provincial code lists; and (iii) suppliers’ inability to satisfy contractual agreements. The recurrence of stock-outs had implications at multiple levels: (i) health facility operations; (ii) the Chronic Dispensing Unit (CDU), which prepacks medicines for over 300 000 public sector patients; and (iii) community-based medicines distribution systems, which deliver the CDU’s prepacked medicines to non-health facilities nearer to patient homes. For instance, stock-outs resulted in omission of certain medicines from CDU parcels that were delivered to health facilities. This increased workload and caused frustration for frontline health workers who were expected to dispense omitted medicines manually. According to frontline health workers, this translated into longer waiting times for patients and associated dissatisfaction. In some instances, patients were asked to return for undispensed medication at a later date, which could potentially affect adherence to treatment and therapeutic outcomes. Stock-outs therefore undermined the intended benefits of ATM strategies.
Conclusion. Addressing the procurement challenges, most notably timeous tender awards and supplier performance management, is critical for successful implementation of ATM strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:00:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-49bba3b749054589ba6f48bd4cbe7b42 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0256-9574 2078-5135 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:00:08Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | South African Medical Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-49bba3b749054589ba6f48bd4cbe7b422024-01-02T02:10:55ZengSouth African Medical AssociationSouth African Medical Journal0256-95742078-51352017-07-01107758158410.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i7.11356Inefficient procurement processes undermine access to medicines in the Western Cape Province of South AfricaBvudzai P Magadzire0Kim Ward1Henry M J Leng2David Sanders3School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South AfricaSchool of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South AfricaSchool of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South AfricaSchool of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South AfricaBackground. South Africa (SA) has experienced several stock-outs of life-saving medicines for the treatment of major chronic infectious and non-communicable diseases in the public sector. Objective. To identify the causes of stock-outs and to illustrate how they undermine access to medicines (ATM) in the Western Cape Province, SA. Methods. This qualitative study was conducted with a sample of over 70 key informants (frontline health workers, sub-structure and provincial health service managers). We employed the critical incident technique to identify significant occurrences in our context, the consequences of which impacted on access to medicines during a defined period. Stock-outs were identified as one such incident, and we explored when, where and why they occurred, in order to inform policy and practice. Results. Medicines procurement is a centralised function in SA. Health service managers unanimously agreed that stock-outs resulted from the following inefficiencies at the central level: (i) delays in awarding of pharmaceutical tenders; (ii) absence of contracts for certain medicines appearing on provincial code lists; and (iii) suppliers’ inability to satisfy contractual agreements. The recurrence of stock-outs had implications at multiple levels: (i) health facility operations; (ii) the Chronic Dispensing Unit (CDU), which prepacks medicines for over 300 000 public sector patients; and (iii) community-based medicines distribution systems, which deliver the CDU’s prepacked medicines to non-health facilities nearer to patient homes. For instance, stock-outs resulted in omission of certain medicines from CDU parcels that were delivered to health facilities. This increased workload and caused frustration for frontline health workers who were expected to dispense omitted medicines manually. According to frontline health workers, this translated into longer waiting times for patients and associated dissatisfaction. In some instances, patients were asked to return for undispensed medication at a later date, which could potentially affect adherence to treatment and therapeutic outcomes. Stock-outs therefore undermined the intended benefits of ATM strategies. Conclusion. Addressing the procurement challenges, most notably timeous tender awards and supplier performance management, is critical for successful implementation of ATM strategies.http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/11937/8102Medicines supplyDistributionProcurementStock-outs |
| spellingShingle | Bvudzai P Magadzire Kim Ward Henry M J Leng David Sanders Inefficient procurement processes undermine access to medicines in the Western Cape Province of South Africa South African Medical Journal Medicines supply Distribution Procurement Stock-outs |
| title | Inefficient procurement processes undermine access to medicines in the Western Cape Province of South Africa |
| title_full | Inefficient procurement processes undermine access to medicines in the Western Cape Province of South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Inefficient procurement processes undermine access to medicines in the Western Cape Province of South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inefficient procurement processes undermine access to medicines in the Western Cape Province of South Africa |
| title_short | Inefficient procurement processes undermine access to medicines in the Western Cape Province of South Africa |
| title_sort | inefficient procurement processes undermine access to medicines in the western cape province of south africa |
| topic | Medicines supply Distribution Procurement Stock-outs |
| url | http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/11937/8102 |
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