scholarly journals COMMUNITY PHARMACY ROLE IN UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE IN MOMBASA COUNTY

Author(s):  
Kailong J. M ◽  
Aggrey A ◽  
Mulinya S

Community pharmacy role in universal health coverage was a qualitative study that entailed close contact to the role played by community pharmacies in healthcare provision. As a "small healthcare" in provision of pharmaceutical services, community pharmacies are required to be included in realization of Universal Health Coverage in Mombasa since it is among the Big 4 Agenda of the national government (MOH, 2013). The objective of the study was to determine community pharmacy role in universal health coverage. A descriptive cross sectional study design was used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data and the design estimate the prevalence of the outcome of interest commonly for the purpose of public health planning. A sample size of 196 was calculated using fishers formula. Data was collected using in-depth interviews and structured questionnaire were administered on a target population of community pharmacies health providers and clients seeking services respectively. The collected data was analysed using SPSS version 20 and interpreted using tables and pie charts. On community pharmacy practitioners respondents; 58% were male, 90.3% diploma holders in pharmacy, 39.8% registered with PPB and 65% had practised for less than two years. 78% of the respondents agree that community pharmacy has a role in UHC and there was 74% affordability of community pharmacy medicines. Bivariate analysis findings show that training and inspection on UHC (P=0.003) Covid 19 (p=0.000) and inspection fee (p=0.000). Accessibility; location of community pharmacies (p=0.000) and doctors attitudes (p=0.000). Essential medicines; acyclovir 200mg tablets (p=0.000), chlorpromazine 100mg tablets (p=0.000) and tetanus toxoid vaccine (p=0.000). Key determinants of community pharmacy role in UHC were diploma (AOR 666.7; CI 129.6-3429.5), Erythromycin 125mg suspension (AOR 120.3; CI 15.4-940.8), Acyclovir 200mg tablets (AOR 46.823; CI 17.7-124.1) and Occupation (AOR 45.271; CI 15.363-133.404. The study recommends reduction of tax on essential medicines, MOH revise the UHC policy to incorporate community pharmacies and empowerment on management of controlled drugs and vaccines in order to realize effective and efficient UHC in Kenya

Author(s):  
Lawrence O. Gostin

How can we keep people – wherever they live – healthy and safe? Among all global health initiatives, universal health coverage (UHC) has garnered most political attention. But can UHC (as important as it is) actually achieve the two fundamental aspirations of the right to health: keeping people healthy and safe, while leaving no one behind? There is a universal longing for health and security, but also a deep-seated belief in fairness and equity. Can UHC achieve both health and equity, or what I have called, "global health with justice?" What makes a population healthy and safe? Certainly, universal and affordable access to healthcare is essential, including clinical prevention, treatment, and essential medicines. But beyond medical care are public health services, including surveillance, clean air, potable water, sanitation, vector control, and tobacco control. The final and most important factor in good health are social determinants, including housing, employment, education, and equity. If we can provide everyone with these three essential conditions for good health (healthcare, public health and social determinants), it would vastly improve global health. But we also need to take measures to leave no one behind. To achieve equity, we need to plan for it, and here I propose national health equity programs of action. Society’s highest obligation is to achieve global health, with justice.


The Lancet ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 389 (10067) ◽  
pp. 403-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika J Wirtz ◽  
Hans V Hogerzeil ◽  
Andrew L Gray ◽  
Maryam Bigdeli ◽  
Cornelis P de Joncheere ◽  
...  

The Lancet ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 389 (10082) ◽  
pp. 1881-1882 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika J Wirtz ◽  
Hans V Hogerzeil ◽  
Andrew L Gray

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (11) ◽  
pp. 756-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola J Gray ◽  
Jean-Pierre Chanoine ◽  
Mychelle Y Farmer ◽  
Jordan D Jarvis ◽  
Kate Armstrong ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Floriano Amimo ◽  
Ben Lambert ◽  
Anthony Magit ◽  
Masahiro Hashizume

Abstract Background The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has the potential to reverse progress towards global targets. This study examines the risks that the COVID-19 pandemic poses to equitable access to essential medicines and vaccines (EMV) for universal health coverage in Africa. Methods We searched medical databases and grey literature up to 2 October 2020 for studies reporting data on prospective pathways and innovative strategies relevant for the assessment and management of the emerging risks in accessibility, safety, quality, and affordability of EMV in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used the resulting pool of evidence to support our analysis and to draw policy recommendations to mitigate the emerging risks and improve preparedness for future crises. Results Of the 310 records screened, 134 were included in the analysis. We found that the disruption of the international system affects more immediately the capability of low- and middle-income countries to acquire the basket of EMV. The COVID-19 pandemic may facilitate dishonesty and fraud, increasing the propensity of patients to take substandard and falsified drugs. Strategic regional cooperation in the form of joint tenders and contract awarding, joint price negotiation and supplier selection, as well as joint market research, monitoring, and evaluation could improve the supply, affordability, quality, and safety of EMV. Sustainable health financing along with international technology transfer and substantial investment in research and development are needed to minimize the vulnerability of African countries arising from their dependence on imported EMV. To ensure equitable access, community-based strategies such as mobile clinics as well as fees exemptions for vulnerable and under-served segments of society might need to be considered. Strategies such as task delegation and telephone triage could help reduce physician workload. This coupled with payments of risk allowance to frontline healthcare workers and health-literate healthcare organization might improve the appropriate use of EMV. Conclusions Innovative and sustainable strategies informed by comparative risk assessment are increasingly needed to ensure that local economic, social, demographic, and epidemiological risks and potentials are accounted for in the national COVID-19 responses.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e024845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham Assan ◽  
Amirhossein Takian ◽  
Moses Aikins ◽  
Ali Akbarisari

ObjectiveCommunity-based initiatives have enormous potential to facilitate the attainment of universal health coverage (UHC) and health system development. Yet key gaps exist and threaten its sustainability in many low-income and middle-income countries. This study is first of its kind (following the launch of the Sustainable Developments Goal [SDG]) and aimed to holistically explore the challenges to achieving UHC through the community-based health planning and service (CHPS) initiative in Ghana.DesignA qualitative study design was adopted to explore the phenomenon. Face-to-face indepth interviews were conducted from April 2017 until February 2018 through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data were analysed using inductive and deductive thematic analysis approach.SettingData were gathered at the national level, in addition to the regional, district and subdistrict/local levels of four regions of Ghana. Sampled regions were Central Region, Greater Accra Region, Upper East Region and Volta Region.ParticipantsIn total, 67 participants were interviewed: national level (5), regional levels (11), district levels (9) and local levels (42). Interviewees were mainly stakeholders—people whose actions or inactions actively or passively influence the decision-making, management and implementation of CHPS, including policy makers, managers of CHPS compound and health centres, politicians, academics, health professionals, technocrats, and community health management committee members.ResultsBased on our findings, inadequate understanding of CHPS concept, major contextual changes with stalled policy change to meet growing health demands, and changes in political landscape and leadership with changed priorities threaten CHPS sustainability.ConclusionUHC is a political choice which can only be achieved through sustainable and coherent efforts. Along countries’ pathways to reach UHC, coordinated involvement of all stakeholders, from community members to international partners, is essential. To achieve UHC within the time frame of SDGs, Ghana has no choice but to improve its national health governance to strengthen the capacity of existing CHPS.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e022345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie Robert ◽  
Valery Ridde ◽  
Dheepa Rajan ◽  
Omar Sam ◽  
Mamadou Dravé ◽  
...  

IntroductionIn 2011, WHO, the European Union and Luxembourg entered into a collaborative agreement to support policy dialogue for health planning and financing; these were acknowledged as core areas in need of targeted support in countries’ quest towards universal health coverage (UHC). Entitled ‘Universal Health Coverage Partnership’, this intervention is intended to strengthen countries’ capacity to develop, negotiate, implement, monitor and evaluate robust and integrated national health policies oriented towards UHC. It is a complex intervention involving a multitude of actors working on a significant number of remarkably diverse activities in different countries.Methods and analysisThe researchers will conduct a realist evaluation to answer the following question: How, in what contexts, and triggering what mechanisms, does the Partnership support policy dialogue for health planning and financing towards UHC? A qualitative multiple case study will be undertaken in Togo, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cape Verde, Burkina Faso and Niger. Three steps will be implemented: (1) formulating context–mechanism–outcome explanatory propositions to guide data collection, based on expert knowledge and theoretical literature; (2) collecting empirical data through semistructured interviews with key informants and observations of key events, and analysing data; (3) specifying the intervention theory.Ethics and disseminationThe primary target audiences are WHO and its partner countries; international and national stakeholders involved in or supporting policy dialogues in the health sector, especially in low-income countries; and researchers with interest in UHC, policy dialogue, evaluation research and/or realist evaluation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika J Wirtz ◽  
Hans V Hogerzeil ◽  
Andrew L Gray ◽  
Maryam Bigdeli ◽  
Cornelis De Joncheere ◽  
...  

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