[e-drug] Involve key players at implementation stage

[Kibumba George <kibumba@yahoo.com>]

E-drug: Involve key players at implementation stage
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This is about implementation of programmes involving extensive
use of essential drugs and supplies (including vaccines). While the
policy of essential drugs and their rational use is highly regarded by
WHO (World Health Organisation) and other donor agencies, there
is always a gap at the stage of implementation of programmes
supposed to foster the concepts.

It isn't complete to talk about implementation of the essential drug
policy and rational drug use at all levels, especially in basic
programmes, with pharmacists out of the equation. 

Let us cite examples of the programmes. Tuberculosis Control
Programme, Malaria Control Programme (MCP), Integrated
Management Of Childhood Illness (IMCI)-etc. Some of these
programmes involve pharmacists, but a number don't. As
mentioned earlier, there is extensive use of essential medicines and
supplies (including vaccines) -- but the health care teams running
them are often incomplete. Of course with adverse results.

Consider this scenario in my country. Chloroquine, a cheap
antimalarial, is still effective in most rural settings. However,
guidelines or guidance on how to use chloroquine injection and
syrup are lacking. Health workers and communities, without
practical information, therefore, wrongly prescribe or dispense these
dosage forms of the relatively cheap chemical.

Recognizing the impact of this conduct on future of the health care
system and budget, arguments to have pharmacists on the
implementation team of the Malaria Control Programme have been
advanced. But they fall on deaf ears. Notice that other members of
the health care team(s) don't seem to forecast the fate of the
indifference.

Nevertheless, recipients of donor funds always heed the ideas of
donors. I thought the donor community can help to request health
workers implementing key programmes to involve pharmacists.

May the members of the Expert Committee on essential drugs look
at this aspect as well as other pertinent issues.

Regards,

George Kibumba, MPS

Teaching Assistant, Clinical Pharmacy
Dept Of Pharmacy, Makerere University,
P.O.BOX 7072, KAMPALA, UGANDA (E.Africa)
Mobile: 256 71 81 54 28
e-mail: kibumba@yahoo.com 

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