Essential medicines resource and readiness in primary health care facilities

Abstract

Background: The universal health coverage (UHC), which means that all Mongolian people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship (WHO). Materials and Methods: The study used SARA (Service Availability and Readiness Assessment) tool to access essential medicine of primary health care service readiness. The survey was conducted using a cross-sectional study and covered 70 primary health care facilities, including soum health centers and inter-soum hospitals that provide primary health care. Results: According to the results of the survey, 43.8 of family health centers and 56.4 of soum health centers (including inter soum hospitals) were assessed for the readiness of essential medicines and medical supplies. When ordering essential medical supplies, 51%-56.8% of the surveyed organizations receive a regular amount, while 21.6%-33.3% make orders using the formula method. 52% of them have difÏculties in supplying essential medicines and medical supplies with regular resources for 2 months, and 47.8% have had shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies in the last year. Conclusion: 1. Out of a total of 66 essential medicines and medical devices, 43.8 were for FHCs and 54.9 were for STIs / STDs. 2. Supply of medicines and medical supplies has been in short supply for 47.8% of the surveyed organizations over the past year.