शराब और नशीली दवाओं पर निर्भरता का जर्नल
खुला एक्सेस

अमूर्त

Evaluation of Quality of Auditable Pharmaceutical Transactions and Services Program: The Case of Health Centers of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abdurohman Eshetu, Abdella Birhan Yabeyu, Habtamu Solomon Mengistu

Background: Pharmaceutical system is one of the crucial parts of the health system building blocks and a vital section to realizing universal health coverage and the overall achievement of the sustainable development goal. However, studies showed that a poor pharmaceutical system is a reason for insufficient access to essential medicines, wastage of scarce resources, and widespread health hazards, noted in the world.

Objective: To evaluate the Auditable Pharmaceutical Transactions and Services (APTS) program quality and status of implementation, outcomes, and its challenges for implementation, in the pioneer health centers of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: Two types of study designs were used; one was an exploratory design for the evaluation of the dispensary service quality, and the other was a descriptive design for program implementation status, outcome, and challenge. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were applied. For data collection, the self-administered questionnaire, key informants’ interviews with staff participants in the pharmacy service area, and observation and document review were used. For the dispensary service quality assessment, a total of 500 patients were interviewed for data collection. 40 pharmacists were included in self-administered questionnaires. For the in-depth interview, data were collected from all of the five; medical directors, finance, and pharmacist head of the five pioneer APTS implementing HCs, in Addis Ababa, which were a total of 15.

Results: The overall dispensary service quality aligned with client satisfaction assessed by Service Quality (SERVQUAL) model results in 1.1, which is a positive gap score showing the client’s satisfaction with the service quality. With regards to the implementation status of the APTS program, the health centers implemented 83% of process implementation to 72% of service availability in the health centers, and the overall average status of APTS implementation is 78%. Also, the health center’s average outcome implementation was 72.8. The findings of the evaluation and the judgment matrix showed the APTS program improved the dispensary service quality, client satisfaction, and client knowledge.

Conclusion: Based on the judgment matrix, there is good client satisfaction, implementation status, and outcome of the APTS program in the health centers. However, the implementation is affected by the shortage of manpower, and capacity building in the facility.