Amber Pitts

Institutionalizing Robust Quantification Processes and Tools within Guinea’s National Malaria Control Program

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By Claude Bahati, Deputy Country Project Director, SIAPS, Guinea Accurate quantification for malaria programs, which involves forecasting the quantities needed and planning for the procurement of appropriate pharmaceuticals and supplies, is essential to ensuring that patients receive a continuous supply of commodities. The US Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals … Read more

IT solution for pharmacovigilance supports rational use of quality, safe, and effective medicines

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An online system for monitoring and reporting cases of adverse drug reactions and lack of efficacy of medicines comprehensively addresses the need for improved access to quality, safe, and effective medicines. “The evaluation and analysis of PAIS system in Ukraine has brought out gaps and identified recommendations on operational PAIS system optimization and enhancing its … Read more

Using the Electronic Dispensing Tool to Retain Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in Namibia

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Compiled by Wezi Tjaronda (SIAPS), Samson Mwinga (SIAPS), Harriet Kagoya (SIAPS), and Greatjoy Mazibuko (SIAPS) At the Kaisosi settlement in Rundu, Namibia, antiretroviral therapy (ART) patients who were once lost to follow up (LTFU) are returning for care. One of these patients, Domingos Christophine*, a 39-year-old single mother, began ART at the Kuisebmund clinic in … Read more

Creating Order from Disorder: De-junking County and Facility Pharmaceutical Stores in South Sudan

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Many health facilities and county-level stores in South Sudan are practically overflowing with medicines. For a young country plagued by political instability and insufficient health care infrastructure, an abundance of medical supplies may seem to be an advantage. Instead, the situation holds the potential for a public health catastrophe:  many of these medicines are expired … Read more

SIAPS highlights the challenge of medicines access at the 2014 Mini-University

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Each spring the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health sponsor the Global Health Mini-University, a day-long forum for global health professionals and students. The event features a variety of sessions on areas such as HIV/AIDS, family planning, and health systems. This past year, … Read more

Universal Health Coverage Conference to Take Place in South Africa

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From September 28 to 30, 2014, global experts will convene in Cape Town, South Africa, in a meeting organized by Management Sciences for Health (MSH) with funding from SIAPS to start a dialogue on medicines and universal health coverage (UHC). At last year’s meeting, it became clear that many national UHC plans do not give priority … Read more

Improving Maternal Health: Strengthening Procurement Systems at the Subnational Level

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Beth Yeager and Sheena Patel Expanding access to essential maternal medicines saves mothers’ lives. But access to life-saving maternal medicines requires an effective supply chain that delivers the right medicines to the right people at the right times. In many countries, weak pharmaceutical management systems are unable to meet the challenges of providing access to … Read more

The West Africa Regional Project Dashboard: Better information for Better Decision Making

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Alerts of stock-outs of life-saving medicines for antiretroviral therapy (ART) and treating opportunistic infections have emerged from a number of countries in West Africa. Several root causes of stock-outs have been identified such as poor coordination and information sharing among partners. The West Africa HIV and AIDS Regional Dashboard, called HIV and AIDS Commodity Tracking … Read more

SIAPS Launches Accreditation of School of Pharmacy in DRC

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The five-year, USAID-funded Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) Program in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) officially launched an initiative to evaluate the curriculum of the University of Kinshasa’s School of Pharmacy in order to assist the School in meeting international standards in pharmacy education for accreditation purposes. Joining SIAPS/DRC at the … Read more

SIAPS Supports the Republic of Uzbekistan in Conducting an Assessment of the TB Pharmaceutical Management System

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To ensure successful treatment and prevention of TB, countries should have strong pharmaceutical management systems to ensure uninterrupted supply of quality anti-TB medicines. Acknowledging shortcomings of the existing TB pharmaceutical management system (TB PM), Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health (MOH) requested that SIAPS provide assistance and conduct a countrywide TB PM assessment. SIAPS, in collaboration with … Read more