Availability, Affordability and Price of Anti-Malaria Medicines in Gamo Zone, South Ethiopia Region
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Date
2023
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Addia Ababa University
Abstract
Malaria is a major public health problem in Ethiopia and has been consistently reported as one
of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Frequent stock depletion and shortage of anti-
malaria medicines were observed in public health facilities of Ethiopia. The aim of this study
was to assess the availability, affordability and price of anti- malaria medicines in Gamo Zone,
South Ethiopia Region. The study employed a mixed methods research design, combining both
qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. This study was conducted in one General
Hospital, two primary hospitals, fifteen health centers, six health posts, ten private drug stores
and the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service of Arbaminch Hub. A two-stage cluster
sampling technique was implemented to select twenty-four public health facilities and 10 private
drug stores from the Zone. Record review, an observational check list and an in-depth interview
were used as a data collection technique. The data was analyzed using Excel for quantitative
descriptive analysis and thematically for qualitative data. The median percent availability of
adult dosage forms of Artemether +Lumefantrine and Chloroquine was high (82%) and (84%)
respectively in Public Health Facilities. The median availability of Artesunate injection and
Primaquine tablet was 40% and Rectal Artesunate was unavailable in Public Health Facilities.
The market price of Chloroquine tablet and Quinine injection was 0.3 and 0.9, respectively. A
three days treatment of uncomplicated cases of malaria caused by Artemether + Lumefantrine
costs the lowest paid unskilled government worker their 2.9 days wage. According to the Key
informants, unavailability of anti-malaria medicines in Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply
Service, poor Quality of reporting and requisition form, lack of training on new updates on the
national malaria Guideline were the main contributing factor for the unavailability of anti-
malaria medicines in their facilities. This study found low availability of Anti- malaria medicines
in public health facilities. The study also demonstrates that, there was a gap in regularly
distribution of Artesunate injection. Low supply of anti-malaria medicines, poor RRF data
quality, lack of training on new updates were identifying as a contributing factor for low
availability of medicines in facilities, emphasizing the need for continuous and sustainable
availability of these medicines for the prevention, treatment, and elimination of malaria.
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Keywords
Affordability, anti-malaria medicines, availability, Price