HEALTH COMMODITIES AND HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP (HCHTWG) UPDATE JANUARY, 2017

The HCHTWG met on Wednesday 20th January 2017, and the following are the main issues discussed:

1.Shortage of LMIS Tools

It was reported that there has been a shortage of many LMIS tools and in particular R&Rforms at the facility level in many districts. These are the standardized forms which health centers and dispensaries use for ordering the health products they require as well as reporting on their use. MSD reported that there has been some delays in the printing of the forms as the PSU in collaboration with programmes are still in the process of revising the forms. A deadline was given to ensure that the forms are printed by next month.

2.Expired Medicines

It was reported that some of the programmes eg HIV, NTD had last month reported overstock of some products which will eventually lead to expiries. Preliminary report of teams which went in several regions to do Data Quality Assessment of eLMIS also found many expired medicines. It was agreed that this is a big challenge which cannot be solved by the MOH alone but in collaboration with the POLARG. It was therefore agreed that this should be the main topic for discussion during the next meeting and also to make sure that POLARG are represented.

3. Logistics management Dashboard

A presentation was given by USAID of a logistic management dashboard that is being developed that will link the eLMIS and the MSDs` EPICOR 9 systems to enable data visibility on stock status, financial availability status as well as incoming shipments of some medicines. The dashboard will be available to MSD and MOH managers and directors as well as some partners. The system is still in the development stage and inputs from various stakeholders are being collected.

4. Medicines Budget

It was reported that for this financial year, the government has already given Tshs 84 billion out of the 250 billion it had pledged to give for medicines and other health products compared to the 29 billion it gave last year. Out of this, 6 billion has been used in the procurement of vaccines. Since September, the Government has also paid 5.4 billion of the MSD debt.

5. Stock Status:

  1. MSD reported that they have in stock 111 products out of the list of 135 vital products given by the ministry.
  2. It was reported that there are enough stocks of RHCS products except for low stocks of Jadelle, Depo Provera injection and Amoxicillin DT tablets. However Co packed Zinc/ORS kits are out of stock. Shipments for all these are underway.
  3. There is a critical shortage of the first line TB medicines (RHZE, RHE and RH) as well as Isoniazid 300mg country-wide but in particular in Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Manyara, Lindi, Mtwara, Tabora and Mbeya regions. It was reported that a consignment of the products is on its way by ship and could reach here by end of February. Participants recommended that NTLP look at the possibility of a small shipment to come by air or get some few stocks from neighboring countries as it was important that patients should not stop their treatments midway and that new patients should get treatment immediately.
  4. NTLP also reported that they had overstock of paediatric TB medicines due to low enrollment of children compared to the set targets as well as some clinicians used adult formulations for children below 20 kg Body Weight. NTLP is planning to strengthen information sharing with health workers on the use of paediatric formulations using WhatsApp.

Page 1 of 2