Delivering medicines in a challenging environment: the pharmaceutical sector in East Timor (a descriptive study)
Background: The health status of the East Timorese population is very poor and much of the health system was destroyed during the violence of 1999. As in other developing countries, the lack of appropriate and high quality medicines significantly compromises patient care throughout the health system...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Centro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones Farmaceuticas
2007-12-01
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| Series: | Pharmacy Practice |
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| Online Access: | http://www.pharmacypractice.org/vol05/04/145-150.htm |
| _version_ | 1819046267191296000 |
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| author | Norris P Dos Santos RB Woods D Tobata W |
| author_facet | Norris P Dos Santos RB Woods D Tobata W |
| author_sort | Norris P |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The health status of the East Timorese population is very poor and much of the health system was destroyed during the violence of 1999. As in other developing countries, the lack of appropriate and high quality medicines significantly compromises patient care throughout the health system. The aim of this study was to examine the purchase, distribution and supply of pharmaceuticals in East Timor, and to identify the challenges faced by the pharmaceutical sector.Methods: Key informant interviews were held with health professionals and others involved in health care and the pharmaceutical sector in East Timor; documents (including regulations and rules) were reviewed; and daily activities observed at the Central Store, health centers, pharmacies and retail shops. Results: Some of the major challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector include lack of trained staff, sub-optimal facilities and lack of basic equipment. These lead to unsafe practices, and reliance on outside agencies.Conclusions: There are significant threats to the supply and quality of medicines in East Timor. There is currently a high level of dependence on foreign expertise, which is unsustainable in the long term. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:41:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-85ad416ecaf34a32868d8bc25cd9386a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1885-642X 1886-3655 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:41:45Z |
| publishDate | 2007-12-01 |
| publisher | Centro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones Farmaceuticas |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmacy Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-85ad416ecaf34a32868d8bc25cd9386a2022-12-21T19:06:55ZengCentro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones FarmaceuticasPharmacy Practice1885-642X1886-36552007-12-0154145150Delivering medicines in a challenging environment: the pharmaceutical sector in East Timor (a descriptive study)Norris PDos Santos RBWoods DTobata WBackground: The health status of the East Timorese population is very poor and much of the health system was destroyed during the violence of 1999. As in other developing countries, the lack of appropriate and high quality medicines significantly compromises patient care throughout the health system. The aim of this study was to examine the purchase, distribution and supply of pharmaceuticals in East Timor, and to identify the challenges faced by the pharmaceutical sector.Methods: Key informant interviews were held with health professionals and others involved in health care and the pharmaceutical sector in East Timor; documents (including regulations and rules) were reviewed; and daily activities observed at the Central Store, health centers, pharmacies and retail shops. Results: Some of the major challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector include lack of trained staff, sub-optimal facilities and lack of basic equipment. These lead to unsafe practices, and reliance on outside agencies.Conclusions: There are significant threats to the supply and quality of medicines in East Timor. There is currently a high level of dependence on foreign expertise, which is unsustainable in the long term.http://www.pharmacypractice.org/vol05/04/145-150.htmPharmaceutical ServicesDelivery of Health CareDeveloping CountriesEast Timor |
| spellingShingle | Norris P Dos Santos RB Woods D Tobata W Delivering medicines in a challenging environment: the pharmaceutical sector in East Timor (a descriptive study) Pharmacy Practice Pharmaceutical Services Delivery of Health Care Developing Countries East Timor |
| title | Delivering medicines in a challenging environment: the pharmaceutical sector in East Timor (a descriptive study) |
| title_full | Delivering medicines in a challenging environment: the pharmaceutical sector in East Timor (a descriptive study) |
| title_fullStr | Delivering medicines in a challenging environment: the pharmaceutical sector in East Timor (a descriptive study) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Delivering medicines in a challenging environment: the pharmaceutical sector in East Timor (a descriptive study) |
| title_short | Delivering medicines in a challenging environment: the pharmaceutical sector in East Timor (a descriptive study) |
| title_sort | delivering medicines in a challenging environment the pharmaceutical sector in east timor a descriptive study |
| topic | Pharmaceutical Services Delivery of Health Care Developing Countries East Timor |
| url | http://www.pharmacypractice.org/vol05/04/145-150.htm |
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