Abstract:

The study aimed at assessing accessibility of prescribed medicines for elders. The study was based on the implementation of specific objective number eight of National Policy for Ageing 2003 which aim at ensuring that older people receive basic health. The study was cross sectional hospital based research design, carried out at Sekou Toure Regional hospital in Mwanza on May 2016. The specific objectives for the study were; to find out the availability of the drug of choice as per five selected common diseases, to assess proportion of the medicine prescribed and dispensed to patients.

Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used in data collection and analysis. The study involved 20 elderly patients whom were given questionnaire and 100 prescriptions were taken in observation and used as instrument to collect primary data. The study found that out of 100 prescriptions, only 27 prescriptions were dispensed with all prescribed medicine while 73 were dispensed with some of the prescribed medicine. The proportional of prescription and drug dispensed shows that the mean drug missed is 48%. The study found that almost half of prescribed drug were not available. The study suggests that the government should to take all necessary measure to improve health status and services for elderly persons.