Availability and Expiry of Essential Medicines and Supplies During the ‘Pull’and ‘Push’Drug Acquisition Systems in a Rural Ugandan Hospital

摘要

Purpose: To assess the impact of the ‘Pull’system on the availability and reduction of expiry of essential medicines and medical supplies and to determine factors affecting their availability in Kilembe Hospital, Uganda. Methods: Records of 27 essential medicines and 11 medical supplies were reviewed over two-year periods in the Push (2000 -2001) and Pull system (2004 -2005). Key informant interviews were conducted. The data were analyzed using STATA version 8. Comparison of availability was effected using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Results: The median number of days out-of-stock for drugs and medical supplies was 94 versus 24 (p Conclusion: The Pull system improved availability of essential medicines and reduced the volume of expiries. Availability of funds, transport, staff training and supervision should be addressed for maximal benefits.