Since the first National Drug Policy, whose goal was to improve access to essential drugs, was published in 1990, the extent of its implementation has never been evaluated. This policy is currently under review and therefore, a pharmaceutical assessment would not only serve as a baseline but also help to identify possible strengths and weaknesses in the sector so as to influence the review process.

This survey is also expected to help identify priority areas for evidence-based interventions. It would also form the basis for future evaluations of technical input into the pharmaceutical sector, and provide much-needed information on the Nigerian pharmaceutical sector.

The study was carried out using Level I and Level II indicators for monitoring the pharmaceutical sector². Level I indicators which assess the existing infrastructure and key processes of the pharmaceutical sector were collected before the field study, using a structured questionnaire (annex 1). Level II indicators which focus on the degree of access and rational use of quality drugs was the object of this survey (annex 2). The indicators measured are as follows:

² WHO Operational Package for Monitoring and Assessing Country Pharmaceutical Situations.

Access

• Percentage availability of key drugs
• Average stock-out duration
• Affordability of drugs used for treatment of uncomplicated pneumonia in children

Rational Use

• Average number of drugs prescribed
• Percentage of patients prescribed antibiotics
• Percentage of patients prescribed injections
• Percentage of prescribed drugs included in the EDL
• Percentage of drugs adequately labelled
• Percentage of patients who have adequate knowledge of how to take their medicines
• Percentage of facilities with STG
• Percentage of facilities with EDL
• Percentage of appropriate diarrhoea prescriptions
• Percentage of appropriate non - ARI prescriptions
• Percentage of appropriate prescriptions for mild/moderate pneumonia

Quality

• Adequacy of storage
• Percentage of expired drugs

Household Survey

• Source of consultation
• Source of medication prescribed
• Barriers to acquisition of prescribed medicines
• Proportion of weekly income spent on medicines for one illness episode.

Labelling Requirements

• Name of the drug
•. Strength
• Dosage form
• Name of patient
• Dosing regimen
• Duration of treatment