Impact of EPP training
Health care workers who had no prior pharmaceutical training received formal training through the Essentials of Pharmaceutical Practice (EPP) course.
As a result the following have been observed in some facilities:
- Marked improvement in stock management
- Improved stock levels of essential medicines with a reduction in stock outs
- Contribution by some staff to the Drug and Therapeutic Committees (DTCs) who are in charge of governance of medicines in hospitals
- Increased confidence in staff when counseling patients on how to take their medicines
- Improved labeling to ensure better compliance by patients in taking medicines
- Trained staff members are able to work with minimum supervision
- The amount of expired medicines has decreased tremendously (up to 95%) in some facilities
- Stock availability increased (up to 100%) in some facilities
- Drug stores are now organized with proper arrangement of drugs in most facilities
- Adherence to the cold-chain has gone up following quality training and use of thermo-loggers in some institutions
- Trained staff members are able to share pharmaceutical information to patients and medical staff
- Stock cards are in place and up to date
- All essential medicines are available in some facilities
- Sharing pharmaceutical information has influenced behavioral change in medicine dispensers and patients; this is contributing to better overall health outcomes
- Medicine storage and stock management systems based on best practices are in place in church health systems
- Measures and systems are in place to support continuous availability of quality and affordable medicines such as better quantification and ordering
- Measures to implement and promote rational use of medicines are in place in some institutions
- Standard operating procedures for transparent procurement are in place
- Quality assurance policies for products and services are developed and implemented
- Church leaders are aware of key health services and key messages on pharmaceutical issues
- Some health facilities provide antiretroviral therapy and are promoting adherence
