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El Ekiaby M, Diop S, Gouider E, Moftah F. Challenges associated with access to plasma-derived medicinal products in low middle-income and low-income countries. Vox Sang 2024; 119:166-170. [PMID: 38050721 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs) are essential to treat many chronic conditions such as haemophilia and primary immunodeficiency. Patients living in low middle-income and low-income countries (LMICs and LICs, respectively) have limited access to PDMPs. The aim of this article is to explore the challenges of accessing PDMPs in LMICs and LICs. MATERIALS AND METHODS A review of the literature and reports on blood safety, plasma production and its utilization to produce PDMPs in LMICs and LICs was carried out. RESULTS There is huge wastage of recovered plasma in LMICs and LICs as a result of a lack of good manufacturing practice (GMP) in the production of plasma for fractionation. Together with the high cost of imported PDMP procurement, patients have limited access to such products. CONCLUSION There is a need to improve the situation by using domestically sourced plasma through the initiation of local plasma programmes through a stepwise approach to improve access to PDMPs in LMICs and LICs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saliou Diop
- Dakar National Blood Transfusion Center, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Emna Gouider
- Hematology Department, Aziza Othmana Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
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Piggott T, Moja L, Garcia CAC, Akl EA, Banzi R, Huttner B, Kredo T, Lavis JN, Schünemann HJ. User-experience testing of an evidence-to-decision framework for selecting essential medicines. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0002723. [PMID: 38206901 PMCID: PMC10783770 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Essential medicine lists (EMLs) are important medicine prioritization tools used by the World Health Organization (WHO) EML and over 130 countries. The criteria used by WHO's Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines has parallels to the GRADE Evidence-to-Decision (EtD) frameworks. In this study, we explored the EtD frameworks and a visual abstract as adjunctive tools to strengthen the integrate evidence and improve the transparency of decisions of EML applications. We conducted user-experience testing interviews of key EML stakeholders using Morville's honeycomb model. Interviews explored multifaceted dimensions (e.g., usability) on two EML applications for the 2021 WHO EML-long-acting insulin analogues for diabetes and immune checkpoint inhibitors for lung cancer. Using a pre-determined coding framework and thematic analysis we iteratively improved both the EtD framework and the visual abstract. We coded the transcripts of 17 interviews with 13 respondents in 103 locations of the interview texts across all dimensions of the user-experience honeycomb. Respondents felt the EtD framework and visual abstract presented complementary useful and findable adjuncts to the traditional EML application. They felt this would increase transparency and efficiency in evidence assessed by EML committees. As EtD frameworks are also used in health practice guidelines, including those by the WHO, respondents articulated that the adoption of the EtD by EML applications represents a tangible mechanism to align EMLs and guidelines, decrease duplication of work and improve coordination. Improvements were made to clarify instructions for the EtD and visual abstract, and to refine the design and content included. 'Availability' was added as an additional criterion for EML applications to highlight this criterion in alignment with WHO EML criteria. EtD frameworks and visual abstracts present additional important tools to communicate evidence and support decision-criteria in EML applications, which have global health impact. Access to essential medicines is important for achieving universal health coverage, and the development of essential medicine lists should be as evidence-based and trustworthy as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Piggott
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Lorenzo Moja
- Department of Essential Medicines and Health Products, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Carlos A. Cuello Garcia
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Elie A. Akl
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Centre, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rita Banzi
- Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Benedikt Huttner
- Department of Essential Medicines and Health Products, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tamara Kredo
- Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Medicine, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Clinical Pharmacology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - John N. Lavis
- McMaster Health Forum, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Africa Centre for Evidence, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Holger J. Schünemann
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Boltena MT, Woldie M, Siraneh Y, Steck V, El-Khatib Z, Morankar S. Adherence to evidence-based implementation of antimicrobial treatment guidelines among prescribers in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Pharm Policy Pract 2023; 16:137. [PMID: 37936215 PMCID: PMC10629154 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-023-00634-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adherence to evidence-based standard treatment guidelines (STGs) enable healthcare providers to deliver consistently appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Irrational use of antimicrobials significantly contributes to antimicrobial resistance in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The best available evidence is needed to guide healthcare providers on adherence to evidence-based implementation of STGs. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of adherence to evidence-based implementation of antimicrobial treatment guidelines among prescribers in SSA. METHODS The review followed the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of prevalence data. CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched with no language and publication year limitations. STATA version 17 were used for meta-analysis. The publication bias and heterogeneity were assessed using Egger's test and the I2 statistics. Heterogeneity and publication bias were validated using Duval and Tweedie's nonparametric trim and fill analysis using the random-effect analysis. The summary prevalence and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) of healthcare professionals' compliance with evidence-based implementation of STG were estimated using random effect model. The review protocol has been registered with PROSPERO code CRD42023389011. The PRISMA flow diagram and checklist were used to report studies included, excluded and their corresponding section in the manuscript. RESULTS Twenty-two studies with a total of 17,017 study participants from 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa were included. The pooled prevalence of adherence to evidence-based implementation of antimicrobial treatment guidelines in SSA were 45%. The pooled prevalence of the most common clinical indications were respiratory tract (35%) and gastrointestinal infections (18%). Overall prescriptions per wards were inpatients (14,413) and outpatients (12,845). Only 391 prescribers accessed standard treatment guidelines during prescription of antimicrobials. CONCLUSIONS Healthcare professionals' adherence to evidence-based implementation of STG for antimicrobial treatment were low in SSA. Healthcare systems in SSA must make concerted efforts to enhance prescribers access to STGs through optimization of mobile clinical decision support applications. Innovative, informative, and interactive strategies must be in place by the healthcare systems in SSA to empower healthcare providers to make evidence-based clinical decisions informed by the best available evidence and patient preferences, to ultimately improving patient outcomes and promoting appropriate antimicrobial use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minyahil Tadesse Boltena
- Ethiopian Evidence Based Health Care Centre: A Joanna Briggs Institute Center of Excellence, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
- Knowledge Translation Division, Knowledge Management Directorate, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Mirkuzie Woldie
- Ethiopian Evidence Based Health Care Centre: A Joanna Briggs Institute Center of Excellence, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Yibeltal Siraneh
- Ethiopian Evidence Based Health Care Centre: A Joanna Briggs Institute Center of Excellence, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Veronica Steck
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Life Sciences, McGill University, McGill, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ziad El-Khatib
- Global Public Health Department, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- World Health Programme, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sudhakar Morankar
- Ethiopian Evidence Based Health Care Centre: A Joanna Briggs Institute Center of Excellence, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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Lam DCL, Yoo CG, Nakanishi Y, Fong KM. World Lung Day 2023-Access to prevention and treatment for all, leave no one behind. Respirology 2023; 28:989-991. [PMID: 37698021 DOI: 10.1111/resp.14598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David C L Lam
- School of Clinical Medicine, Univesity of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chul-Gyu Yoo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - Kwun M Fong
- The Prince Charles Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Wang R, Li X, Gu X, Cai Q, Wang Y, Yi ZM, Chen LC. The impact of China's zero markup drug policy on drug costs for managing Parkinson's disease and its complications: an interrupted time series analysis. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1159119. [PMID: 37228740 PMCID: PMC10203530 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1159119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In April 2009, the Chinese government launched Zero Markup Drug Policy (ZMDP) to adjust medical institutions' revenue and expenditure structures. Objective This study evaluated the impact of implementing ZMDP (as an intervention) on the drug costs for managing Parkinson's disease (PD) and its complications from the healthcare providers' perspective. Methods The drug costs for managing PD and its complications per outpatient visit or inpatient stay were estimated using electronic health data from a tertiary hospital in China from January 2016 to August 2018. An interrupted time series analysis was conducted to evaluate the immediate change following the intervention (step change, β1) and the change in slope, comparing post-intervention with the pre-intervention period (trend change, β2). Subgroup analyses were conducted in outpatients within the strata of age, patients with or without health insurance, and whether drugs were listed in the national Essential Medicine List (EML). Results Overall, 18,158 outpatient visits and 366 inpatient stays were included. Outpatient (β1 = -201.7, 95%CI: -285.4, -117.9) and inpatient (β1 = -372.1, 95% CI: -643.6, -100.6) drug costs for managing PD significantly decreased when implementing ZMDP. However, for outpatients without health insurance, the trend change in drug costs for managing PD (β2 = 16.8, 95% CI: 8.0, 25.6) or PD complications (β2 = 12.6, 95% CI: 5.5, 19.7) significantly increased. Trend changes in outpatient drug costs for managing PD differed when stratifying drugs listed in EML (β2 = -1.4, 95% CI: -2.6, -0.2) or not (β2 = 6.3, 95%CI: 2.0, 10.7). Trend changes of outpatient drug costs for managing PD complications significantly increased in drugs listed in EML (β2 = 14.7, 95% CI 9.2, 20.3), patients without health insurance (β2 = 12.6, 95% CI 5.5, 19.7), and age under 65 (β2 = 24.3, 95% CI 17.3, 31.4). Conclusions Drug costs for managing PD and its complications significantly decreased when implementing ZMDP. However, the trend in drug costs increased significantly in several subgroups, which may offset the decrease at the implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruilin Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinya Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Institute for Drug Evaluation, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinchun Gu
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Qian Cai
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Yayong Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhan-Miao Yi
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute for Drug Evaluation, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Li-Chia Chen
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Nyanchoka M, Mulaku M, Nyagol B, Owino EJ, Kariuki S, Ochodo E. Implementing essential diagnostics-learning from essential medicines: A scoping review. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000827. [PMID: 36962808 PMCID: PMC10121180 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) model list of Essential In vitro Diagnostic (EDL) introduced in 2018 complements the established Essential Medicines List (EML) and improves its impact on advancing universal health coverage and better health outcomes. We conducted a scoping review of the literature on implementing the WHO essential lists in Africa to inform the implementation of the recently introduced EDL. We searched eight electronic databases for studies reporting on implementing the WHO EDL and EML in Africa. Two authors independently conducted study selection and data extraction, with disagreements resolved through discussion. We used the Supporting the Use of Research Evidence (SURE) framework to extract themes and synthesised findings using thematic content analysis. We used the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 to assess the quality of included studies. We included 172 studies reporting on EDL and EML after screening 3,813 articles titles and abstracts and 1,545 full-text papers. Most (75%, n = 129) studies were purely quantitative in design, comprising descriptive cross-sectional designs (60%, n = 104), 15% (n = 26) were purely qualitative, and 10% (n = 17) had mixed-methods approaches. There were no qualitative or randomised experimental studies about EDL. The main barrier facing the EML and EDL was poorly equipped health facilities-including unavailability or stock-outs of essential in vitro diagnostics and medicines. Financial and non-financial incentives to health facilities and workers were key enablers in implementing the EML; however, their impact differed from one context to another. Only fifty-six (33%) of the included studies were of high quality. Poorly equipped and stocked health facilities remain an implementation barrier to essential diagnostics and medicines. Health system interventions such as financial and non-financial incentives to improve their availability can be applied in different contexts. More implementation study designs, such as experimental and qualitative studies, are required to evaluate the effectiveness of essential lists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moriasi Nyanchoka
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Mercy Mulaku
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacy, and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Bruce Nyagol
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Eddy Johnson Owino
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Simon Kariuki
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Eleanor Ochodo
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Tefera BB, Tafere C, Yehualaw A, Mebratu E, Chanie Y, Ayele S, Adane S. Availability and stock-out duration of essential medicines in Shegaw Motta general hospital and Motta Health Centre, North West Ethiopia. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274776. [PMID: 36112721 PMCID: PMC9481020 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Essential medicines are those that meet the population’s most pressing healthcare needs. As a result, they should always be available in sufficient quantities and the proper dosage forms within health facilities. The study aimed to determine the availability and stock-out duration of essential medicines in Shegaw Motta General Hospital and Motta Health Centre. Descriptive study was conducted at Shegaw Motta General Hospital and Motta Health Centre. The data were collected from June-20 to July-20, 2021 G.C. Fifteen essential medicines from both health facilities’ tracer drug lists were reviewed. The frequency and percentage of availability and stick-out duration were calculated, and the results were briefly described in the text and displayed in tables. The average availability of essential medicines on the day of the survey was 80% and 93.3% in Shegaw Motta general hospital and Motta health center, respectively. Besides, 60% and 20% of the essential medicines were stocked out at least once in the last six months (before the data collection period) in the hospital and health center, respectively. The average stock-out duration in the last six months period (before the data collection period) was 38.8 days (ranges from 10 days to 157 days) in the hospital and 11.2 days in the health center. Ferrous salt + folic acid 150mg + 0.5mg and Medroxy Progesterone injection were the medicines with the longest stock-out duration in Shegaw Motta general hospital and Motta health center, respectively.The average availability of essential medicines was fairly high both in the hospital and health center. In comparison to the hospital, the health center had better availability and a shorter stock-out duration. Over the last six months, a significant percentage of essential medicines were stocked out at the hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bereket Bahiru Tefera
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
- * E-mail:
| | - Chernet Tafere
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Adane Yehualaw
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Ephrem Mebratu
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Yalelet Chanie
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Simachew Ayele
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Sewnet Adane
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
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Ng'ang'a J, Chitimbe T, Mburu R, Rushwan S, Ntirushwa D, Chinery L, Gülmezoglu AM. Challenges in updating national guidelines and essential medicines lists in Sub-Saharan African countries to include WHO-recommended postpartum hemorrhage medicines. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2022; 158 Suppl 1:11-13. [PMID: 35762803 PMCID: PMC9543462 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Despite the 2017 WHO recommendations on tranexamic acid (TXA) for the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), the 2018 uterotonic recommendations (which included heat-stable carbetocin (HSC) for the prevention of PPH) and their inclusion in the WHO Essential Medicines List (EML), both drugs are still underused or not used at all to manage PPH in many countries with a high burden. HSC is currently being registered in low- and middle-income countries and its policy inclusion is limited and slow. TXA (also heat stable) is available in many countries but is not registered for PPH treatment, which may have contributed to the delay in its inclusion in national guidelines and EMLs. For both drugs, national guidelines will need to be revised and updated for their optimal uptake. We implemented an advocacy initiative to accelerate the necessary normative policy change to ensure access to quality-assured and heat-stable medicines for the prevention and treatment of PPH in Sub-Saharan African countries. Our initiative aimed to raise awareness of the importance of recently recommended medicines for the prevention and treatment of PPH and support the process to update PPH guidelines and EMLs to include these drugs. We highlight the lessons learned during the initiative, including the challenges and opportunities identified in updating PPH policies at the national level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - David Ntirushwa
- University of Rwanda and University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), Kigali, Rwanda
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