Expiry of veterinary medicines in supply outlets in Central Uganda: prevalence, management and associated factors
Abstract Background Animal diseases are a danger to livestock, businesses, and public health. This is why the public and private sectors in Africa have invested immensely in the manufacture and distribution of veterinary drugs. However, veterinary drug supply chain actors still suffer losses as a re...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-023-00569-6 |
| _version_ | 1797328116253720576 |
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| author | Stevens Kisaka Frank K. Tumwebaze |
| author_facet | Stevens Kisaka Frank K. Tumwebaze |
| author_sort | Stevens Kisaka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Animal diseases are a danger to livestock, businesses, and public health. This is why the public and private sectors in Africa have invested immensely in the manufacture and distribution of veterinary drugs. However, veterinary drug supply chain actors still suffer losses as a result of expiration. Besides, the way expired products are managed might pose risks to human, animal, and environmental health. This study investigated the prevalence, management of, and factors associated with the expiry of veterinary medicines in supply outlets in Central Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among owners and caretakers of veterinary drug supply outlets. Data were collected using self-administered, semi-structured questionnaires. The level of expiry was computed as “acceptable” (for levels reported as ≤ 5%) and “unacceptable” (for levels reported as ˃5%). Logistic regression was used to assess associations between the level of drug expiry and predictor variables. Results A total of 168 owners/caretakers of veterinary drug supply outlets were included in this study. The majority (148/168, 88.1%) of respondents reported having experienced expiries in their outlets. Unacceptable levels of expiry were reported in 38/168 (22.6%) of the outlets. Retail outlets accounted for the majority (34/38, 89.5%) of the unacceptable levels. Powdered drugs accounted for most expiries (106/148, 71.6%). Most expiries were for drugs supplied to outlets on credit (58/124, 46.8%) and those used to treat rare diseases (26/124, 21%). Major reasons for expiry included irrational prescription, inaccurate forecasts, overstocking, dry seasons, and stocking without considering stock-at-hand. Methods of disposal of expired drugs included throwing at pits (74/168, 44.1%); returning drugs to suppliers (51/168, 30.4%); and incineration (33/168, 19.6%). Factors associated with acceptable levels of expiry included the caretaker being female [adjusted OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.22–5.08]; having a procurement policy [adjusted OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.29–4.81] and practicing first expiry, first out [adjusted OR = 6.07, 95% CI = 4.71–8.70]. Conclusions Veterinary drug expiries are common in Uganda, and environmentally unfriendly methods of disposal are widely used. Acquisition and use of inventory tracking technologies that support First-Expiry-First-Out principles as well as proper disposal of expired medicines are recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:47:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-947b55a12f084396b0a848e395aec4fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-3211 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:47:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-947b55a12f084396b0a848e395aec4fe2024-02-03T07:42:54ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice2052-32112023-05-0116111410.1186/s40545-023-00569-6Expiry of veterinary medicines in supply outlets in Central Uganda: prevalence, management and associated factorsStevens Kisaka0Frank K. Tumwebaze1College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere UniversitySchool of Public Health, Makerere UniversityAbstract Background Animal diseases are a danger to livestock, businesses, and public health. This is why the public and private sectors in Africa have invested immensely in the manufacture and distribution of veterinary drugs. However, veterinary drug supply chain actors still suffer losses as a result of expiration. Besides, the way expired products are managed might pose risks to human, animal, and environmental health. This study investigated the prevalence, management of, and factors associated with the expiry of veterinary medicines in supply outlets in Central Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among owners and caretakers of veterinary drug supply outlets. Data were collected using self-administered, semi-structured questionnaires. The level of expiry was computed as “acceptable” (for levels reported as ≤ 5%) and “unacceptable” (for levels reported as ˃5%). Logistic regression was used to assess associations between the level of drug expiry and predictor variables. Results A total of 168 owners/caretakers of veterinary drug supply outlets were included in this study. The majority (148/168, 88.1%) of respondents reported having experienced expiries in their outlets. Unacceptable levels of expiry were reported in 38/168 (22.6%) of the outlets. Retail outlets accounted for the majority (34/38, 89.5%) of the unacceptable levels. Powdered drugs accounted for most expiries (106/148, 71.6%). Most expiries were for drugs supplied to outlets on credit (58/124, 46.8%) and those used to treat rare diseases (26/124, 21%). Major reasons for expiry included irrational prescription, inaccurate forecasts, overstocking, dry seasons, and stocking without considering stock-at-hand. Methods of disposal of expired drugs included throwing at pits (74/168, 44.1%); returning drugs to suppliers (51/168, 30.4%); and incineration (33/168, 19.6%). Factors associated with acceptable levels of expiry included the caretaker being female [adjusted OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.22–5.08]; having a procurement policy [adjusted OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.29–4.81] and practicing first expiry, first out [adjusted OR = 6.07, 95% CI = 4.71–8.70]. Conclusions Veterinary drug expiries are common in Uganda, and environmentally unfriendly methods of disposal are widely used. Acquisition and use of inventory tracking technologies that support First-Expiry-First-Out principles as well as proper disposal of expired medicines are recommended.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-023-00569-6ExpiryVeterinary medicinesSupply outletsUganda |
| spellingShingle | Stevens Kisaka Frank K. Tumwebaze Expiry of veterinary medicines in supply outlets in Central Uganda: prevalence, management and associated factors Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice Expiry Veterinary medicines Supply outlets Uganda |
| title | Expiry of veterinary medicines in supply outlets in Central Uganda: prevalence, management and associated factors |
| title_full | Expiry of veterinary medicines in supply outlets in Central Uganda: prevalence, management and associated factors |
| title_fullStr | Expiry of veterinary medicines in supply outlets in Central Uganda: prevalence, management and associated factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Expiry of veterinary medicines in supply outlets in Central Uganda: prevalence, management and associated factors |
| title_short | Expiry of veterinary medicines in supply outlets in Central Uganda: prevalence, management and associated factors |
| title_sort | expiry of veterinary medicines in supply outlets in central uganda prevalence management and associated factors |
| topic | Expiry Veterinary medicines Supply outlets Uganda |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-023-00569-6 |
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