The Drug Revolving Fund Scheme is a very effective strategy for ensuring uninterrupted drug supply in the health care delivery system. Experience from several health institutions in the country, however, has shown that its advantages have not been apparent due to a variety of reasons, including the following:

• poor management,
• misapplication of the Fund,
• purchasing of drugs at exorbitant prices,
• lumping of the proceeds of the Fund into a general account, and
• non-reimbursement of the cost of drugs for exempted patients.

Consequently, the Drug Revolving Fund Scheme shall be strengthened at all levels of government through:

i. Establishment of a DRF committee in every health institution for an effective and transparent fund management;

ii. Provision of adequate capital for the procurement of required drugs;

iii. Maintenance of a separate account for the DRF scheme, which shall be used exclusively for drug purchasing;

iv. Ensuring strict accountability for the drugs provided in the system by supplying them on a “cash-and-carry” basis;

v. Empowering the head of the pharmacy department of the health institution as the custodian of drugs to the institution and making him a required signatory to the DRF account; and

vi. Provision of appropriate training for the DRF personnel.