Publication: Medical Products for Cardiovascular Disease Management in Nepal: a needs assessment study
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Medical Products and Technologies is a key component of the health system. Quality
medicines and efficient management of the medical products can secure effective
cardiovascular diseases management.
Objective
To collate information and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and
threats (SWOT) associated with medical products and technology component for
cardiovascular disease management in Nepal.
Method
This study is a part of a larger rapid assessment of Nepal’s health system for
cardiovascular disease management and based on The Health System Assessment
Approach: A How-To Manual (USAID). The authors conducted a desk review of
documents related to the WHO “medical product and technology” building block
component and key informant interviews using a pre-tested interview protocol.
The first eight interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed inductively to
generate a codebook; and the remaining, transcribed and deductively coded based
on the codebook. Findings were categorised into relevant topical area and SWOT
components.
Result
Nepal has laws and provisions for medicine regulation, pharmacovigilance, post
marketing surveillance, registration and licensing provisions for pharmacy industries/
outlets, essential medicine lists and national formulary. These provisions also apply
to medicines used for cardiovascular diseases. The challenge however, is the lack of
effective implementation and monitoring, due to shortages of technical workforce
and state of art information and technologies. Information on pharmaceutical
expenditures for cardiovascular disease management is scarce; there are no standard
national level guidelines that are consistently used to manage cardiovascular diseases
in health facilities.
Conclusion
There are limited provisions and information on medical products for cardiovascular
disease management in Nepal, and a need to strengthen existing provisions for
medicine regulations and surveillance.
KEY WORDS
Cardiovascular Disease, Health System, Medicines, Medical Products, Nepal
Description
Sapkota S,1-3 Shrestha S,4 Bista D,3,5 Shrestha A,4,6-8 Maharjan R,2,4,9 Bajracharya S,4 Jha N,4 Koju RP,10,11 Shrestha R12,13
1Research Division, Manmohan Memorial Institute
of Health Sciences, Soalteemod, Kathmandu,
Nepal. 2Department of Pharmacy, Manmohan
Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Soalteemode,
Kathmandu, Nepal. 3Fellow, CVD Translational
Research Program, Kathmandu University
School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavre,
Nepal. 4Department of Community Programs,
Dhulikhel Hospital-Kathmandu University Hospital,
Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal. 5Department of Pharmacy,
Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchowk,
Nepal. 6Department of Public Health, Kathmandu
University School of Medical Sciences,
Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal. 7Department of Chronic
Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health,
New Haven, USA. 8Institute for Implementation
Science and Health, Kathmandu, Nepal. 9Department
of Nursing and Midwifery, Kathmandu University
School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal.
10Dean, Kathmandu University School of Medical
Sciences, Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal. 11Department
of Internal Medicine, Dhulikhel Hospital-Kathmandu
University Hospital, Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal.
12Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu
University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel,
Kavre, Nepal. 13Pharmacovigilance Unit/Research
and Development Division, Dhulikhel Hospital-
Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Kavre,
Nepal
Keywords
Cardiovascular Disease, Health System, Medicines, Medical Products, Nepal