Abdul Sattar Khan Abbasi, Arslan Mazhar, Shahzad Ali Khan, Mahmoodur Rehman.
Assessment of logistic mechanism of anti-tuberculosis drugs in District Bagh, Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
Pak J Public Health Jan ;2(1):30-5.

Background: Poor drug management along with passive reporting is the major impediment in functioning of effective drug logistic management system. The objective of the study was to assess the inventory management, storage and distribution of the anti- Tuberculosis (TB) drugs at district store, health facility and community health worker levels. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted at one district and ten public health facilities TB stores in district Bagh. Eleven facility Incharges, and 66 LHWs/Treatment Supporters were selected through universal sampling technique. Results: In 55% of health facilities, the information on quarterly indent of anti-TB drugs was not available. Received anti-TB drugs at district store were distributed to 55% facilities within 3 months. Stock registers were present in 91 % facilities but updating of both stock registers and bin cards were practiced in 36% facilities. 27% facilities possessed the written guidelines regarding the storage and distribution of the anti-TB drugs. 55% facilities had proper ventilation system and similar proportion did not arrange medicine boxes as per FEFO method. Functional vehicle for the proper distribution of drugs was observed in only 9% of health facilities. 60% LHWs/ Treatment Supporters received anti-TB drugs after fifteen days while 40% received after one month. 70% were affirmative about availability of drugs and only 32% LHWs/ Treatment Supporters kept record of distributed anti-TB drugs. 71% LHWs/ Treatment Supporters identified traveling to the concerned facility as biggest hurdle in getting anti-TB drugs. Conclusion: Logistic mechanism for anti-TB drugs needs better procurement policies, formal distribution system, effective inventory and storage management and, above all, improved managerial knowledge and skills to improve drug management system at all levels.

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