PERFORMANCE OF VILLAGE PHARMACIES AND PATIENT COMPLIANCE AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ESSENTIAL DRUG PROGRAM IN RURAL BURKINA-FASO

After implementation of a nation-wide essential drug programme in Burk ina Faso a prospective study was undertaken consisting of non-particip ant observation in the health centre and in the village pharmacy, and of household interviews with the patients. The study covered all gener al consultations in nine health centres in three districts over a two- week period as well as all client-vendor contacts in the corresponding village pharmacies; comprising 313 patients in consultations and 498 clients in eight village pharmacies with 12 vendors involved in dispen sing 908 drugs. Additionally patients were interviewed in their househ olds. Performance and utilization of the village pharmacy: 82.0% of th e drugs prescribed in the health centres were actually dispensed at th e village pharmacy; 5.9% of the drugs were not available at the villag e pharmacy. Wrong drugs were dispensed in 2.1 % of cases. 41.3 % of th e drugs dispensed in the village pharmacy were bought without a prescr iption. Differences are seen between the districts and are put in rela tion to different onset of the essential drug programme. Patient compl iance: Patients could recall the correct dosage for 68.3% of the drugs . Drug taking compliance was 63.1%, derived from the pills remaining i n the households. 11.5% of the drugs had obviously been taken incorrec tly to such an extent that the occurrence of undesired drug effects wa s likely. The study demonstrates the success of the essential drug pro gramme not only in performance but also in acceptability and utilizati on by the population.