Prioritization of Medicine Importation by the Private Sector in Sudan: Evidence from a Data Analysis, 2012-2015

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study is to analyze the annual medicines imported by private sector for the period between 2012 and 2015 with the help of priority system based on ABC-VEN matrix analysis and therapeutic category analysis.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. The Always, Better, and Control (ABC) analysis based on drug expenditure and Vital, Essential, and Nonessential (VEN) analysis based on the criticality of the drugs was performed for annual importation in 2015.Results: Using ABC analysis, we found that 47 items (9.2%) accounted for 70% of the budget (class A), whereas a larger numbers of items (344; 67.2%) accounted for only 10% of the importation costs (class C). A moderate number of items (120; 23.5%) comprised 20% of the annual medicine importation value (class B). VEN analysis revealed that 89 items (17.4%) in the vital category constituted 41.6% of the importation value, whereas 349 (68.3%) grouped as essential constituted 45.1% of the value, and 73 (14.2%) of the items considered as nonessential medicines consumed only 13.3% of the total medicines imported in 2015. From the resultant ABC-VEN coupled matrix, three categories were created I, II and III. Conclusion:In view of limited resources, it is important that the existing resources should be utilized appropriately. This study identified a range of suggestions for better medication importation. The ABC and VEN analyses along with the therapeutic category analysis technique are convenient, systematic, and replicable methods and should be adopted for optimization and prioritization of resources.

Evaluation of Medication Planning with ABC-VEN Analysis at Indriati Solo Baru Hospital

“…The results of the study listed in Table 1 differ from the results of a study conducted by Kheder et al 11 , which shows that the number of drugs in group A is higher than in groups B and C, with the percentage values of drugs in group A of 9.2%, group B of 23.5%, and group C of 67.3%, whereas when compared to the study by Deressa et al 4 , the results are only slightly different: the percent of drugs in group A was 13.74%, group B was 18.18%, and group C was 68.08%. The difference is due to a variety of factors, including the different methods of data collection used, the difference in time and place of research, as well as differences in definition and classification.…”

Psychological repercussions of COVID-19 on health care workers, Sudan

“…The Sudanese healthcare system comprises of both public and private institutions. Sadly, many of such a huge system had to close down their doors owing to fear of COVID-19 spreading (Kheder et al, 2020). This worsened the conditions in the country, frustrating the citizens and they were pushed to their limits which were obvious in their dissatisfaction.…”

Drug shortage crisis in Sudan in times of COVID-19

“…Historically, drug importation and manufacturing problems have always been related to the decline in the local currency relative to the United States Dollar in Sudan [ 1 , 5 ]. The shortage of hard currency, difficulty in accessing raw materials, manufacturing issues, regulatory system issues, as well as many other meandering pathways within distribution chains are some of these factors.…”

“…A published data on healthcare system financing in Sudan had indicated that 65% of funding is from private sources, almost all of which is out-of-pocket expenditure, as the spending by the private sector had grew rapidly (57% in between 1995 and 2013), pointed to a significant gap as result of the absence of government expenditures [ 1 ]. The former ruling regime pursued a policy of privatization, which resulted into corruption, disjointed financing, and stagnation of the healthcare system [ 3 ].…”

“…In the private sector, medicines supply is provided by local manufacturing factories and through direct importation from international manufacturers. The total value of pharmaceutical market (TPM) according to National Medicines and Poisons Board (NMPB) records estimated to be US $650 million, the share of public sector was US $155 million (24.0%), and the share of private sector was US $495 million (76.0%) [ 1 ]. The current share of local manufacturing in production of essential medicines in Sudan is only 5%.…”