Supply Chain Management Practices And Challenges Of HIV Rapid Test Kits In Selected Public Hospitals And Health Centers In Oromia Region
Creators: name: Mekonnen, Jara
Publisher: name: National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia
Year: 2019

description: Ethiopia is on the way to achieve the three nineties. However, HIV testing has decreased by 8% (Oromia by 7%) in 2009 EFY (2016/17)when compared to performance of preceding year by major reason related to shortage/poor distribution of diagnostic test kits (FMOH, 2017). This study aimed to assess the supply chain management practices and challenges of HIV rapid test kits in selected public Hospitals and Health Centers in Oromia region, focusing on ten HIV hot spot towns. The study is descriptive and causal study design, employing cross sectional data and using quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques to gather the required data at certain point in time. Sample size determined as per the basis of LIAT for Antiretroviral drugs (USAID|DELIVER PROJECT, Task Order 1, 2009) using extreme or deviant case sampling, 25 public health facilities selected. Data was collected from a total of 120 staffs working at Voluntary Counseling and Testing, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), Laboratory, Pharmacy head and store using combined structured questionnaire (schedule) and observation checklist. At pharmacy store,73.9% of health facilities are using and updating bin card for Stat pack and SD Bioline, 69.6% for Abon and 56.5% for DBS kit. But at testing point only 29.5% of facilities are using and updating bincard. Inventory auditing is conducted by 87.5% of facilities. Most (73.9%) of facilities met at least 80% of standard storage guidelines. HIV rapid test kit is distributing through pharmacy store. Almost all health facilities received their HIV RTK quota system from THA. Except one facility, all are using HIV rapid test kits for non-MARPS clients also. Report and Requisition Form used by 70.8% and others are using letter to report and request the kit (29.2%). Testing point are using Internal Facility Report and Resupply form, to report and re-supply but with no testing data at most facilities. Stat pack, Abon, and SD Bioline were available at most of health facilities at the day of visit. But encountered stockout of Stat pack at 26%, Abon at 43.5% and SD Bioline in the last 6 months preceding this assessment. And, 37.5% of them placed emergency order. The respondents agreed moderately with quality of HIV RTK (mean 3.56), availability when customers' needs, get pharmacy professional working on distribution and received voucher upon issuing. Operational supply chain performance of HIV kits in terms of reliability, responsiveness and agility are moderately good. The most challenges of supply chain management of HIV rapid test kits identified were false positive i.e. when the 1st test positive and then 2nd test negative i.e. wastage of kits, and the shortage of kits. Support on recordings and reports at testing departments, storage space expansion, follow national supply chain system, and further and wider studies on supply chain management and on quality of HIV rapid test kits are recommended.