Until recently, sporadic stock-outs of contraceptives at service delivery points (SDPs) under the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) were a challenge in Bangladesh. These stock-outs were caused by a lack of accurate and real-time logistics data from the SDPs, limited access to data, and poor feedback mechanisms. This situation increased the risk of unwanted pregnancies … Read more
By Abraham Ayuen, Communications Specialist On November 8, 2016, the US Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) Program convened a key stakeholder meeting in Juba, South Sudan, to reflect on lessons learned, achievements, and final transition plans as the project concluded five years of pharmaceutical systems strengthening … Read more
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the world’s most pressing and urgent global health threats— one that could erode the current progress against tuberculosis (TB), malaria, HIV/AIDS, and many other infectious diseases. In conjunction with World Antibiotic Awareness Week (14-20 November), the SIAPS Program has published a technical program update on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance with Stronger Health … Read more
Historically, Namibia has often struggled with shortages of pharmaceutical personnel due to a reliance on a foreign-trained workforce. Before SIAPS started working in the country in 2011, approximately 90% of pharmacist positions were filled by non-Namibians working on short-term contracts. Today, the situation is dramatically different — Namibian workers now staff 76% of all public … Read more
By Jane Briggs, Principal Technical Advisor More than 900,000 children die of pneumonia each year (more than malaria, measles, and HIV/AIDS combined), according to the World Health Organization. Many of these cases go undiagnosed and untreated. How can this be when we know what works? A five-day, twice-daily amoxicillin regimen—in either dispersible tablet (DT) or oral … Read more
By Aubrey Clark, SIAPS Technical Advisor, and Mohan P. Joshi, SIAPS Principal Technical Advisor and Cluster Lead for Pharmaceutical Services “Medicines don’t work in patients who don’t take them.” – Former US Surgeon General C. Everett Koop Today, medicines exist to treat many of the world’s most pressing health threats. Deaths from HIV/AIDS have fallen by … Read more
The SIAPS team has helped the Ethiopian Food, Medicine, and Health Care Administration and Control Authority (FMHACA) and many health facilities in the country incorporate product quality reporting into its national adverse drug event (ADE) reporting system. This has proven to be an efficient and cost-effective measure to detect products with problems in quality and … Read more
By Dr. Jonathan Luc Matala, Moise Kazadi, and Pacifique Bwenge Supply chain management includes coordinating and collaborating with partners at all levels, who serve as links to the end users, to ensure that commodities are available when and where they are needed, thereby avoiding wastage and expiry. To strengthen DRC’s interventions and coordinate its supporting … Read more
By Dr. Jonathan Luc Matala and Julie Mbo In 2012, DRC decided to reinforce drug therapeutic committees (DTCs) in nine hospitals that were previously installed by the Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems (SPS) Program. DRC asked the Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) Program, which is funded by the US Agency for International Development … Read more
The Strong Logistic Management Information System (LMIS) supports evidence-based procurement, quantification, supply planning, and financial decisions that are central to effective management of pharmaceuticals. The LMIS makes it easier for South Sudan’s Ministry of Health (MoH) to collect, process, and report on medicine consumption at the central level. However, as a country emerging from decades … Read more
