Background Ethiopia is one of the world’s oldest countries, with a fascinating history of herbal medicine. However, there is a lack of evidence for the regulatory framework for herbal medicines and its implementation. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the policy governing herbal medicines regulation and its implementation in Ethiopia. Methods and Materials An archival review, a semi-structured interview with key informants, a cross-sectional study involving traditional healers, and an institution-based cross-sectional survey were conducted from June 15, 2020 to December 25, 2020. The qualitative data was transcribed using Microsoft Word 10, whereas the quantitative data was recorded and analyzed using SPSS 20 computer statistical software. The study’s findings are summarized using descriptive statistics. In addition, multiple logistic regressions were performed to identify factors affecting regulation of herbal medicine (HM) in Ethiopia. Variables with p<0.05 were considered potential predictors. Results According to all key informants, Ethiopia has yet to adopt distinct policies and laws on herbal medicine that may provide an independent regulatory framework. Similarly, the majority of respondents in an institution-based survey indicated that there were no defined policies (n=52, 57.3%), laws (n=53, 59.6%), or registration systems (n=67, 75.3%) for herbal medicine. However, traditional healers claimed that they are licensed by either the Woreda Health Bureau (n=21, 95.5%) or the Regional Health Bureau (n=1, 4.5%) to legally practise traditional herbal medicine. Besides, no traditional healer is licensed by Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration (EFDA) or Ministry of Health. Conclusion Ethiopia has yet to adopt distinctive herbal medicine policies and laws to provide an independent herbal regulatory system. Despite the fact that the EFDA has a mandate for herbal medicine regulation, traditional healers are licensed by the woreda and regional health bureaus, thus more investigation is needed.

Background: Counterfeit medicines are drugs which are deliberately and fraudulently mislabeled with respect to identity and/or source. According to the WHO 2017 report, about 1% of prescribed medicines in the developed world and about 10-50% in parts of the developing world are estimated to be counterfeits. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of pharmacy profes-sionals towards counterfeit medicines in Harar town. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted among pharmacy professionals found in Harar town, East Ethiopia. All pharmacy professionals working in community drug retail outlets of Harar town was included in the study. Accordingly, 92 pharmacy professionals were included in the study. The data was collected by using self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was prepared in English language. Data was coded, entered and analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sci-ence version 22. Then chi-square(x2) test was performed to determine there exists association of so-cio-demographic characters, profession and year of service towards awareness and attitude about counterfeit medicines was investigated using. Result: A total of 92 respondents were included in the study. The majority, 76 (82.6%), of the study participants had information about counterfeit medicine. The 26(28.3%), 42(45.7%) and 24(26%) of the respondents replied that counterfeit medicines have problem of efficacy, safety and cause eco-nomic problem on sellers of genuine drugs respectively. Majority of the study of the study partici-pants were not aware of a way of identification of counterfeit medicines, with only 18(19.6%), 47(51.1%) and 27(29.3%), replied that counterfeit medicines can be identified by its effect, inspec-tion and cost respectively. Majority of the respondents, 60(65.2%), responded that pharmacy profes-sional that knowingly dispense counterfeit medicine are business man /women. Most of the re-spondents, 66(71.7%), replied that pharmacy professionals carry out the business of counterfeit medicines transaction because of big profit obtained from such an activity. gender, profession and year of service in serving as pharmacy professional was found to be significantly associated with awareness towards counterfeit medicines, (p<0.05). Conclusion: Significant proportion of the study participants were not aware of the problems associ-ated with counterfeit medicines as efficacy, safety and economic problems. Majority of the respond-ents still are unaware about ways of identification of counterfeit medicines as inspection, by effica-cy and cost. Keywords: Counterfeit medicines; Awareness; Attitude; Professionals; Drug retail outlets

Background: Health Management Information System (HMIS) is one of the six building blocks of a health system designed to provide important data for continuous quality improvement at all levels of health care administration. It is a major source of information for monitoring and adjusting policy implementation and resources use. Some studies have been conducted in health data collection and ways to improve data quality, but little is known about utilization of HMIS in health services organization. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the utilization of HMIS and associated factors in the study area. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study conducted in public health institutions of Kembata Tembaro zone from March 1 to March 30,  2018. The sample size was calculated using single population proportion formula,and a total of 317 heads of units/departments of district health offices and health facilities were included. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using structured questionnaires, observational check-lists and interview guide by trained data collectors.  Multivariable logistic regressions were performed using Enter method to identify factors independently associated with dependent variable. Statistical significant variables were declared at P-value less than 0.05 and Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval were used for data interpretation. Result: In this study, overall data utilization was 131(41.59%) with 95% CI of 38.9-46.1%. The data utilization was found to be 98(38.73%) and 33(53.23%) in the health facilities and health administrative units respectively. Training for HMIS [AOR (95% CI)=3.06(2.15-6.75)], availability of procedure manuals [AOR (95% CI)=3.67(1.78-9.01)], and Supportive supervision[AOR (95% CI)=5.30(3.05-11.53)] were found to be significant with HMIS utilization. Conclusion: Utilization of HMIS in public health institution was lower compared to previous studies. HMIS training, supportive supervision and availability of procedure manuals were positively associated with utilization of HMIS. Health facilities and offices should avail HMIS manuals and capacity building of health workers through training and supportive supervision was recommended.                            Peer Review History: Received: 7 March 2022; Revised: 11 April; Accepted: 27 April, Available online: 15 May 2022 Academic Editor: Dr. Marwa A. A. Fayed, University of Sadat City, Egypt, maafayed@gmail.com UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency.  Received file:                                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. Awofisayo, O Abosede, University of Uyo, Nigeria, shalomgirl08@yahoo.com Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com Similar Articles:   INVESTIGATING THE OBSTACLES OF IMPLEMENTING HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS FROM VIEWPOINT OF PERSONNEL OF MEHRIZ HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN 2017

Background: Substance abuse is self-administration of drugs for non-medical reasons, in quantities and frequencies which may impair an individual’s ability to function effectively and which may result in social, physical and emotional problems. Substance abuse is becoming a serious ongoing public health problem; it affects almost every community and family in some way. The common substances abused in most African countries including Ethiopia are alcohol, chat and tobacco Objective:To assess Knewledge, attitude and practice toward substance abuse abuse among the community of kebele 08 community, ShenkorWereda, Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia from December 10, 2020 – February 1, 2021. Methodology: Community based cross-sectional study using a pre-tested structured self-administered questionnaire was conducted from December10, 2020 to February 01, 2021.Simple random sampling technique was used to select 379 respondents from kebele 08, Shenkorworede, Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia residents. The data collection was done using a self-administered structured questionnaire and the data was entered and analyzed by using statistical package for social science version 24. The result is presented in tables and figures. Result: In this study 379 respondents were included. The 206 (54.4%) of the respondents were abused to drinking alcohol, while 61.5%, 32.7% and 13.7% of the respondents were abused to chewing khat, smoking cigarettes and hashish respectively.The 201(53%), 55 (14.5%), 48 (12.7%),30(7.9%),32(8.4%) of participants responded that smoking causes heart attack, diabetic ulcer, impotency, bladder cancer and poor wound healing respectively. The health risks of khat chewing reported by the participants were constipation 58(24.1%), loss of appetite 34(14.1%), gastritis 33(13.7%) and teeth problem 22(9.1%) respectively.In the current study age [AOR=19, 95% CI: 2.46-19.46] and educational status [AOR=43.19, 95%CI: 8.42-187.84] are associated with knowledge about substance abuse. Conclusion and Recommendation: Despite high level of knowledge regarding substance abuse, the prevalence of substance abuse among community remains high.

Background: Job satisfaction is a multidimensional, enduring, important, and much-researched concept in the field of organizational behavior and has been identified as recognition in one’s field of work, level of salary, opportunities for promotion, and achievement of personal goals. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess of job satisfaction pharmacy professional working at pharmacy retail outlets found in Mizan-Aman and Tepi towns, South West Ethiopia. Methods: A cross sectional method was conducted in Mizan Aman and Tepi town. All pharmacy professionals working at Mizan-Aman and Tepi town pharmacy retail outlets who fulfill the inclusion criteria were included. A structured questionnaire was developed based on the published literature regarding satisfaction of pharmacy professionals. The Statistical package for Social Science programs version 21.0 for windows was used to enter and encode the collected data. Result: A total of 35 community pharmacists were invited to participate in the study; out of them only 33(94.3%) of them were participated in the study. Eighty two percent (82%) of them were males and sixty percent (60%) were aged between 20-30. From the study participants, majority (78.8%) of community pharmacists were satisfied with their overall job. In current study 63%, 81.8% and 54.5% of the study participants replied (or satisfied) that the job has good future, the community recognizes their job good and they earn good salary for their job respectively. Likewise, 42.2%, 69.7%and 75.7% of the study respondents replied that they have high chance of professional development, feel accomplishment after finishing their carrier every day and free to use personal ability in work respectively. Conclusion and Recommendation: In general majority of the community pharmacy professionals were satisfied with their job. Ministry of Health should further improve the satisfaction of community pharmacy professionals by creating good work environment, by modifying Pharmacy professional guide line, educational chance and training, professional development as job dissatisfaction causes deleterious impact on patient care despite the magnitude of the professionals dissatisfied in the discipline. Keywords: Druggist; Drug stores; Pharmacists; Pharmacy retail outlets; Satisfaction