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ABSTRACT
Background: The constant availability of essential medicines at primary care is important for credibility and equity of healthcare services, especially for disadvantageous population.
Methods: This study used the existing data to evaluate the availability of 30 essential medicines in 78 district health centers (DHCs) and 246 commune health stations (CHSs), located in 6 ecological regions in Vietnam. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the number of medicines, level, and percentage of availability. Analytical statistics were used to determine the differences between commune and district level.
Results: On average, DHCs had 15.5 (SD = 4.5), and CHSs had 10.5 (SD = 5.3) of 30 medicines. 56.4% DHCs had fairly high or high level of availability. Meanwhile, the rate at commune level was only 24.8%. None of the surveyed health facilities had enough 30 selected medicines. The study findings showed considerable variation in the availability of medicines across ecological regions, therapeutic groups; as well as among medicines for chronic and acute diseases, or over-the-counter and prescription ones.
Conclusions: The study demonstrated a poor availability of essential medicines across all levels of primary healthcare in Vietnam. Policymakers of the Drug administration and Health insurance department should soon work together to develop and regulate such a list of essential medicines.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Ethical consideration
The 2015 Vietnam District and Commune Health Facility Survey was approved by the Vietnam Ministry of Health. Permission to publish the data was obtained from the Vietnam Ministry of Health and the sponsor.
Disclaimers
The findings, interpretation, and conclusions being expressed on this article are the authors’ own views, and do not present the official views of institution and funders.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Hua Thanh Thuy
Ms. Hua Thanh Thuy: With a background in pharmacy, Thuy started her career in Health Policy and Integration Department, HUPH in 2008. Working in a multi-disciplinary environment, she participated in teaching and research activities of Health Policy, Medical Ethics, and Pharmaceutical Management. Her research expertise and interests include health systems, access to medicines, and community feedback.
Dinh Thu Ha
Ms. Dinh Thu Ha has been working as a lecturer and researcher for the Faculty of Social Sciences, Behavior and Health Education, at Hanoi University of Public Health for 8 years. In 2016, she obtained her Master degree in Public Health at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Belgium with an outstanding thesis. Ha is interested in women’s health, mental health, cancer, and managerial issues.
Phan Van Tuong
Mr. Phan Van Tuong is the former head of Health Management Training Institute, HUPH. A public health professional and academic with more than 30 years’ experience in hospital management and health system, Prof. Tuong is a senior consultant of different policy development programs in the Ministry of Health. He is also a member of the scientific committee of the HUPH.
Chu Quoc Thinh
Mr. Chu Quoc Thinh is the deputy director of Drug Registration Division, Drug Administration of Vietnam. He is both a university lecturer and an active policy maker with 15 years’ experience in strengthening the pharmaceutical sector in Vietnam. Dr. Thinh is interested in the research studies that provide evidence for policy-making process.
Nguyen Thi Nga
Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga obtained the Bachelor of Public Health (2010), Master of Public Health in the Kingdom of Thailand (2015). Nga has been working at Hanoi University of Public Health for 9 years. Nga is teaching subjects on Health Communication, Health Promotion, and Social Marketing. Her research interests are included but not limit to health literacy, adolescents and youth health, child health, mental health, mothercare, and HIV/AIDS.