Achievements and impacts 2018-2020

The three-year project of PSF Switzerland in Tanzania came to an end in December 2020. Despite the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the project was implemented in a generally positive way: most of the objectives were achieved!

The project supported Lugala hospital and its dispensaries in Masaati and Ngalimila in the district of Malinyi and the Mwaya health centre in the district of Ulanga. These centres serve a mostly rural population, far removed from any health system, and impoverished. To contribute to the delivery of quality medicines, from 2018 to 2020, PSF Switzerland has sent CHF 104,000 for the patients of the health centres, i.e. approximately 35,000 people per year.

The delivery of medicines to these remote areas takes place only three times a year! This poses many logistical and organisational challenges. In response, PSF Switzerland has implemented rationalisation measures to avoid costly rush orders and stock-outs. Improved stock management was also part of the process, thanks to continuous training and optimised data collection. The result was optimised ordering, with a 37% reduction in out-of-date medicines, and a 2% reduction in medicine orders thanks to contract negotiations with local suppliers!

The monthly inventories and the installation of a new computer system at Lugala Hospital also contribute to the improvement of this process, as well as to the rational use of medicines. These points are essential: they represent the cornerstone of a sustainable and quality functioning of a hospital pharmacy.

Good practice in the distribution and dispensing of medicines is also essential. The volunteers provided ongoing support to the health staff, through various forms of skills transfer. For example, the close training of the assistant pharmacist paid off: in the absence of the volunteer, she managed the supervision of the dispensing of medicines, including the administrative requirements for obtaining them, the monthly inventories, the quarterly ordering and the dispensing of medical equipment. The impact of these trainings is thus confirmed: they contribute to the empowerment of health staff and to a sustainable skills transfer.