Does an Essential Medicines List Tell You What a Clinic Had in Stock?
A medication’s presence on an essential medicines list and its availability at a particular clinic are different facts. Researchers in Sofala Province, Mozambique, compared a list of medicines for mental healthcare with what they found during facility visits.
What the researchers counted
In July and August 2014, the team checked for non-expired medicines across several classes at 24 public health facilities. Eleven facilities had at least one medication available in every class studied. Fluoxetine appeared on the national essential medicines list, yet the team found it at only one surveyed facility and at none of the district warehouses assessed for availability.
What a stock check leaves open
The survey documents inventory at the time of inspection. It cannot show how long a stock shortage lasted or whether a particular person obtained medication. When reviewing a claim about access, look for evidence that ties the drug, facility and date together. A formulary, inventory record, and dispensing record each answer a separate question.
Source
Wagenaar and colleagues, Global Health Action (2015). Journal article · Full text.
