Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2025
Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management
Published on: January 19, 2024
Quality assessment of medicines in selected resource-limited primary healthcare facilities using low- to medium-cost
Kwabena Fm Opuni1, Gifty Sunkwa-Mills2, Maxwell A Antwi2
1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Background:
Digital technologies can assess the quality of medicines in resource-challenged health facilities in a timely manner and ensure effective healthcare.
Objectives:
This study assessed the quality of some non-communicable disease medicines, antimalarials, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hematinics in selected healthcare facilities as part of their (potential) participation in a digital pharmaceutical supply chain management system (Med4All).
Methods:
All the sampled medicines were screened using TruScan analyzer and GPHF-minilab, that is, low-medium field technologies. The quality of a representative subset of the medicines (∼11%) was determined using pharmacopoeia gold standard methods.
Results:
About 75% of the medicines were manufactured in Ghana, and 16% were imported from India, with the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority registering 72% of the medicines. There was over 90% availability of medicines in health facilities from the middle and southern sectors, while the northern sector had around 64%. Approximately 87% and 88% of the medicines passed TruScan™ Raman and GPHF-minilab analysis, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two screening methods for assessing the quality of the medicines (p > 0.05). Of the 21 medicine samples, 5 (∼24%) failed, and 16 (76%) passed the pharmacopoeia test. The failed medicines were diclofenac, azithromycin and glibenclamide. Compared to the pharmacopoeia method, the performance of the TruScan™ Raman analyzer and the GPHF-minilab technologies were 71% and 63%, respectively.
Conclusion:
The study provides insights into the quality of medicines in resource-limited primary healthcare facilities.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
01:30Primary Healthcare Services
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...