Management of health funds and its impacts on availability and accessibility of drugs and medical supplies from MSD to public hospitals: a case of Muhimbili national hospital
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Date
2012
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to investigate effectiveness in the management of health funds to facilitate accessibility to free medical drugs by patients in public hospitals. The Study was carried out in Dar es Salaam involving Muhimbili National Hospital and Medical Stores Department. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews and observation. The findings revealed 53 out of 62 respondents indicating unavailability and inadequacy of some drugs and medical supplies at the drugstores in surveyed hospital, and the major cause was poor management, as noted through unavailability or delays in payment of cash by stakeholders to the authorized drugs and medical supplies procurement agent (MSD). The findings revealed a number of challenges faced in managing health funds, such as inadequate funds for procurement of drugs and medical supplies, poor management of funds, escalating costs of drugs and medical supplies, as well as delays in disbursement of funds from the Government. Several recommendations on strategies to improve effectiveness in funds management were given, such as provision of adequate funds for acquisition of drugs, timely disbursement of funds from the Government, seeking donor assistance, improvement in forecasting of drugs requirement, amendment of some public procurement laws, having effective policies on Health fund management, and improving staff motivation. This study recommends ensuring timely availability of adequate funds for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies, enforcing good governance, improvement in forecasting of drugs requirement, elimination of bureaucratic procedures in drug clearance, motivation for health officers, Good donor coordination as well as having preferential Public procurement laws which will be effective in the procurement of drugs and medical supplies.
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Available in print form
Keywords
Management of health funds, impacts on availability, accessibility of drugs, medical supplies from MSD to public hospitals, Muhimbili national hospital
Citation
Ahmed, M.B (2012), Management of health funds and its impacts on availability and accessibility of drugs and medical supplies from MSD to public hospitals: a case of Muhimbili national hospital, master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam (available at)