Factors associated with the high expiry rate of medicine and supplies in public health facilities in Jubek State, South Sudan

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: The World Health (WHO) recognizes access to safe and adequate medicines as one of the building blocks of the public health system. This entails having adequate supply and availability of provision of medicines, vaccines and medical innovations that do not pose hazards to patients. However, of great concern is the rate of expiry of medicines within health facilities, which exposes patients to preventable health risks. Available evidence indicated that in 2013 alone, medicines worth over SSP 8 million (800,000 USD) expired in South Sudan at the same time, over 80% of health facilities were reported to have no stock of essential medicines. Thus, the study established the factors associated with high rate of expiry of medicines & supplies at health facilities in Jubek State, South Sudan. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at selected public health facilities level within the Jubek State, South Sudan. Quantitative and qualitative data on the factors associated with high expiry of medicines and supplies in public health facilities was collected using structured questionnaire and key informant interview guide (KIIG). Descriptive analysis using EXCEL and STATA version 13 was done to determine the associations between predictors and factors associated with high expiry rate of medicines and supplies at the public health facilities. Results: Twenty-three participants from 6 health facilities were enrolled in the study in 2019. The study revealed that the majority 18(78.26%) of the respondents said that their health facilities had expired medicines and supplies. The quantitative data reveal the medicines that expired range from essential medicines 13(56.5%), family planning products 2(8.7%), meanwhile, 15(65.2%) donated medicines were found to be expired. The qualitative results revealed essential medicines, family planning products, and donated medicine expired at the health facilities. The poor storage facilities low consumption of medicines by the patients, and supply of medicines close to expiry date and unpredictable lead time, and the limited supervision role of Ministry of Health and poor disposal of expired medicines and supplies, including and poor supervision contributed to high expiry of medicines and supplies at the health facilities. iv

Master'sConclusion: In this study overstocking of essential medicines and donated medicines and supplies at the health facilities was found to be statistically significant with high expiry of medicines and supplies