Establishing Effective Hospital Drug and Therapeutics Committees a

Establishing Effective Hospital Drug and Therapeutics Committees: a situational analysis Ndhlovu C E, Simoyi T National Drug and Therapeutics Policy Advisory Committee, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Harare, Zimbabwe

Background • ICIUM 1997 had noted that not much was known about the existence and operations of hospital drug and therapeutics committees(HDTCs) in the developing world. 2

Introduction • Zimbabwe’s National Drug and Therapeutics Policy Advisory Committee(NDTPAC) established in 1992 - INRUD Core group • No formal hospital drug and therapeutics committees • One of the ZNDP’s objectives - “to encourage health workers to participate in collaborative management of drugs in their institutions in order to promote the rational use of drugs”. 3

Introduction • As a follow up to ICIUM 1997, the NDTPAC established a subcommittee for the Establishment and Organization of Drug and Therapeutics Committees(DTCs) in Zimbabwe. Draft manual produced. • In 1998, 8 pilot centres chosen – 2 were at central level – 3 at provincial level – 2 were church-related district hospitals – 1 was a privately run hospital. 4

Objectives of study • To determine the fate of the national subcommittee which had been set up by the NDTPAC for the process of establishing HDTCs countrywide • To determine the fate of the 8 pilot HDTCs 5

Methods • Descriptive cross-sectional study • Doctors-in-charge of the hospitals contacted by telephone. • Data collected using standardized questionnaire 6

Hospital Demographics • Hospital size by number of beds 7

Results • The Subcommittee of the NDTPAC: – 10 members: • 3 clinicians and lecturers, • 2 Clinical Pharmacologists • 5 Pharmacists. – Where were they based? • 8 of these members were based in Harare, • 2 at a Provincial level 8

Membership by Speciality 9

Subcommittee • Employment • 6 were employed via the University • 3 were Ministry of Health and Child Welfare employees. • 1 army Pharmacist 10

Membership by Primary Employer 11

Current national subcommittee membership • Only half (5) of its members are still based in the country and of these, 3 are employed by the University, 1 by the MOHCW and the last one is in the private sector. • Only one of this original group is still a member of the NDTPAC. 12

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Discussion • The NDTPAC no longer has capacity within its membership to set and monitor hospital drug and therapeutics committees. • No active DTC subcommittee • Suggest : – use other current existing multidisciplinary meetings as HDTCs – and consider setting up in the private sector 14

Way forward • Objectives of the HDTCs should be carried out and monitored via existing regular meetings such as division meetings which are usually attended by the administrators of hospitals. • Try setting up in the private sector? 15