The Impact of COVID-19 on Pharmaceutical Shortages and Supply Disruptions for Non-Communicable Diseases Among Public Hospitals of South West, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

COVID-19 is a pandemic disease that has led to inequitable supply and shortages of essential medicines worldwide due to decreased production capacity, export bans, and national stockpiling which are affecting the global pharmaceutical supply chain. Access to essential pharmaceuticals is dependent on well-functioning supply chain systems that move medicines from the manufacturer to end users at service delivery point.

Objective

To assess impact of Covid-19 pandemic disease on pharmaceutical shortages and supply disruptions for non-communicable diseases among public hospitals of South West, Oromia, Ethiopia.

Methods and Materials

A multi-institutional cross sectional study design was employed. Quantitative and qualitative methods were utilized concurrently to gather data from four public hospital warehouses, dispensaries, patients, and local health authorities from March 1–30, 2021 in Ilu-Ababor and Buno-Bedelle Zones, Oromia, Ethiopia. Data were analyzed by using SPSS (version 23.0). A semi-structured interview guide was used to gather qualitative information from key informants from DTC members, patients, and local health authorities and finally analyzed through thematic approach.

Results

From six public hospitals in the two zones; cost of medicine increased more in Dedesa hospital compared to the other public hospital found in that zone and the effect of Covid-19 on essential medicines used for treatment of non-communicable diseases was less in Darimu Hospital. Stock status of PFSA and transportation were the major challenges during the procurement process due to Covid-19 pandemic disease. Among the EMs assessed at public hospitals, drugs used for cardiovascular diseases were out of stock for more than 90 days while anti-asthma drugs were out of stock for less than 40 days.

Conclusion

The availability of essential medicine was low and there was also poor inventory management practice in some of the public hospitals during Covid-19 pandemic in the study period.

Keywords:

• Covid-19
• supply disruptions
• non-communicable diseases
• essential drugs

Abbreviations

COVID-19, Corona Virus Disease 2019; DTC, Drug and Therapeutic Committee; PFSA, Pharmaceuticals Fund Supply Agency; TD, tracer drugs; EM, essential medicines; NCD, non-communicable disease; EPSA, Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency; RDF, Revolving Drug Fund; USAID, United State agency institutional development; CEO, chief executive office; PH, public hospitals; WHO, World Health Organization.

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets (audio records of the key informants and written transcripts) generated and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available because they are confidential in order to protect the participants anonymity.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Mattu University and confidentiality during all phases of research activities was kept and data were held on a secure password-protected system. This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the study participants gave their consent for the publication of identifiable details within the text (“Material”) to be published and they confirmed that they have seen and been given the opportunity to read both the material and the article to be published. They have discussed, with an author of this paper, and they also understand that the published materials may be available in both print and on the internet, and will be available to a broader audience through marketing channels and other third parties.

Acknowledgments

We thank Mattu University for logistic support. We are grateful to staff members and healthcare professionals of Metu Karl, Bedele, Dedesa and Darimu hospital, data collectors, and study participants for their cooperation and success of this study.

Author Contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; agreed to submit to the current journal; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in relation to this work. There are no conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was sponsored by Mattu University.