Pharmaceutical Situation in Saint Lucia. WHO Assessment of Level II - Health Facilities Survey
Abstract
Background. A field study to assess the pharmaceutical situation was undertaken in Saint Lucia from December 2007 to January 2008 using a standardized methodology developed by WHO.
Methods. The survey was conducted in five regions: Gros Islet-Dauphin, Castries, Dennery —Ansela-
Raye, Soufriere and Vieux Fort. From the four areas a total of twenty four (24) public health
pharmacies, ten (10) private pharmacies and four (4) central warehouses were visited. Data entry
was performed using designed survey forms. Analysis was done using with Excel ® program.
Key results concerning facility survey
General indicators. Pharmacists were the only dispensers and were found in all facilities, both public and private sector. Physicians were the only prescribers found, and they were in all public health care facilities.
None of them had attended Rational Use of Medicines (RUM) related training within the previous
year. Access. Overall indicators of access show that key essential medicines selected for Saint Lucia are
completely available in public health facilities, in warehouses that supply public health system and
in private pharmacies. The percentage of dispensed medicines reached a high value.
In the public sector, the procurement agency is purchasing medicines at prices comparable to
international reference prices, indicating a fair level of purchasing efficiency.
Concerning geographical accessibility, it took more than 30 minutes to arrive at the public dispensing
facility for only few (6.7%) of the patients interviewed at public dispensing facilities and
similar results were obtained for private pharmacies.
In treating common conditions using standard regiments, the lowest paid government worker
would need between 0.3 (diabetes in adults) and 0.5 (pneumonia in adults) days wages to purchase
lowest priced generic medicines from the public sector and 0.9 and 0.2 from the private
sector.
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