ASSESSMENT OF AVAILABILITY OF ESSENTIAL MEDICINES IN PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN SEKONDI-TAKORADI METROPOLIS

Abstract

Essential medicines are selected to meet the priority health needs of majority of the population. The World Health Organization has set a benchmark of 80% availability of these essential medicines in health facilities. In Ghana, availability is low with only about 17% of essential medicines available in public health facilities where majority of Ghanaians seek healthcare. Factors that contribute to this low availability include availability of funds to procure these medicines, supply chain and procurement factors. The objective of the study was to assess the availability of essential medicines in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed using mainly quantitative methods complemented with qualitative methods to assess the availability and affordability of 50 essential medicines in public health facilities the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. Fourteen public health facilities were selected to participate in the study. The World Health Organization and Health Action International Methodology, 2008 for medicines price, affordability and availability was applied in the study. The results showed a mean essential medicine availability of 64.5% for lowest-priced generic and 0.3% for originator brands. Median price ratios were 2.03 with 25^th and 75^th percentile price ratio of 1.43 and 3.17 respectively. Prices of essential medicines are two times higher than the international reference price published by Management Science for Health. The minimum wage earner requires 0.3 to 3 days’ wage in order to buy essential medicines for the treatment of the common diseases in the Metropolis.

The procurement system was efficient with competitive procurement price similar to international prices published by the Management Science for Health. Prices of essential medicines remained high and strict adherence to medicine pricing policies is required to make medicines more affordable to low income earning Ghanaians.