Perception of Managers at Outpatient Departments and Healthcare Centres on Availability of Medicines for Non-Communicable Diseases in Public Health Facilities in Lesotho
Lineo Maja
Lineo Maja, Senior Lecturer, Department of Pharmacy, National University of Lesotho, Faculty of Health Sciences, PO Roma 180, Maseru, Lesotho.
Manuscript received on 18 April 2023 | Revised Manuscript received on 08 May 2023 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 June 2023 | Manuscript published on 30 June 2023 | PP: 48-55 | Volume-3 Issue-4, June 2023 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijapsr.B4003081221 | DOI: 10.54105/ijapsr.B4003.03040623
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© The Authors. Published by Lattice Science Publication (LSP). This is an open-access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Background: Medicines for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are essential in the management of patients with NCDs; therefore, they must be readily available to patients at health facilities. Objective: This study aimed to assess the availability of medicines used in the management of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma and epilepsy in public outpatient departments (OPDs) and healthcare centres in Lesotho. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at public OPDs in district hospitals and healthcare centres in Lesotho using self-administered structured questionnaires targeting all employees in managerial positions. Ethical approval was obtained from a licensed Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (Ethics number: 00048-18-A1) and the Ministry of Health Ethics Committee and Review Board of Lesotho (ID120-2018). Data were analysed descriptively. Results: Ten respondents at the OPDs perceived that medicines for diabetes mellitus were available, and nine respondents thought medication for hypertension and asthma were also available. Eight respondents perceived that medicines for epilepsy were available at OPDs. At healthcare centres, 73.3% (n = 63) of respondents perceived that drugs for diabetes mellitus were available, 62.8% (n = 54) thought hypertension medicines were available, 68.6% (n = 59) indicated that medicines for asthma were available, and 61.6% (n = 53) of respondents perceived that medicines for epilepsy were also available. Conclusion: The majority of managers at OPDs and healthcare centres perceived that medication for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma and epilepsy were available at health facilities. Thus, it suggests that public health facilities in Lesotho seem almost always to have medicines for NCDs.
Keywords: Access to Medicines, Access to Treatments, Lesotho, Medicines for Non-Communicable Diseases.
Scope of the Article: Pharmacy Practice