Determinants of Availability and Accessibility of Anticancer Chemotherapeutic Agents at Bugando Medical Centre Mwanza Tanzania.
Lukanya, Edward CUHAS/BP/3000081/T/12
Determinants of Availability and Accessibility of Anticancer Chemotherapeutic Agents at Bugando Medical Centre Mwanza Tanzania. - Mwanza, Tanzania: Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS - Bugando] : ©16.08.2016 - x; 42 Pages Includes References and Appendices
Abstract:
Background: To ensure effective and comprehensive control of cancer, patients undergoing chemotherapy should get continuous supply of anticancer medicines. In Tanzania and other low resourced countries, little is documented regarding the availability and accessibility of anticancer medicines also affordability at the patient level. The number of anticancer medicines prescribed to the cancer patients and its cost implication is also not known.
Objective: To assess the determinants of availability and accessibility of anticancer chemotherapeutic agents to patient registered for chemotherapy at BMC. Specifically to assess the magnitude of the available anticancer medicines and factors affecting accessibility of patients to anticancer medicine at BMC.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out to obtain data through interviews to 216 adults registered for chemotherapy; also data from pharmacy bin card at BMC were used in the study to verify the magnitude of the available anticancer medicines. Patients at the oncology unit were interviewed regarding availability, accessibility and affordability of anticancer medicines. Convenient sampling method was used to enroll eligible consented participants into the study by use of questionnaires.
Results: The study revealed that magnitude of available medicines was relatively small compared to the estimated demand on the department as the result majority of patients 69% did not get any the prescribed medicines at the clinic and 8% got at least one of the prescribed medicines. The clinic provided free medication to 23% of the study population who did get all medicines at the oncology pharmacy. Accessibility to anticancer medicines among patients registered for chemotherapy, there were number of factors which affected accessibility which were thought to be patient perception on cancer, patient family support, family monthly income and employment status. Despite the fact that majority of the study population were peasants also majority were earning income ranging within poverty line (70.38%), but most were able to pay for their medications in private pharmacies.
Conclusion: Availability of anticancer medicines at BMC oncology clinic is not adequate. Majority of patients by medicines from private pharmacies where few are covered by insurance. Despite the fact that majority of patients were able to pay for their medications in private pharmacies treatment completion is another case.
Phone: +255 28 298 3384 Fax: +255 28 298 3386 Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz Website: www.bugando.ac.tz
--Pharmacy
Determinants of Availability and Accessibility of Anticancer Chemotherapeutic Agents at Bugando Medical Centre Mwanza Tanzania. - Mwanza, Tanzania: Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS - Bugando] : ©16.08.2016 - x; 42 Pages Includes References and Appendices
Abstract:
Background: To ensure effective and comprehensive control of cancer, patients undergoing chemotherapy should get continuous supply of anticancer medicines. In Tanzania and other low resourced countries, little is documented regarding the availability and accessibility of anticancer medicines also affordability at the patient level. The number of anticancer medicines prescribed to the cancer patients and its cost implication is also not known.
Objective: To assess the determinants of availability and accessibility of anticancer chemotherapeutic agents to patient registered for chemotherapy at BMC. Specifically to assess the magnitude of the available anticancer medicines and factors affecting accessibility of patients to anticancer medicine at BMC.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out to obtain data through interviews to 216 adults registered for chemotherapy; also data from pharmacy bin card at BMC were used in the study to verify the magnitude of the available anticancer medicines. Patients at the oncology unit were interviewed regarding availability, accessibility and affordability of anticancer medicines. Convenient sampling method was used to enroll eligible consented participants into the study by use of questionnaires.
Results: The study revealed that magnitude of available medicines was relatively small compared to the estimated demand on the department as the result majority of patients 69% did not get any the prescribed medicines at the clinic and 8% got at least one of the prescribed medicines. The clinic provided free medication to 23% of the study population who did get all medicines at the oncology pharmacy. Accessibility to anticancer medicines among patients registered for chemotherapy, there were number of factors which affected accessibility which were thought to be patient perception on cancer, patient family support, family monthly income and employment status. Despite the fact that majority of the study population were peasants also majority were earning income ranging within poverty line (70.38%), but most were able to pay for their medications in private pharmacies.
Conclusion: Availability of anticancer medicines at BMC oncology clinic is not adequate. Majority of patients by medicines from private pharmacies where few are covered by insurance. Despite the fact that majority of patients were able to pay for their medications in private pharmacies treatment completion is another case.
Phone: +255 28 298 3384 Fax: +255 28 298 3386 Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz Website: www.bugando.ac.tz
--Pharmacy