Assessment of the Implementation of the Affordable Medicines Facility for Malaria at Kpone-On-Sea, Ghana

Abstract

The Affordable Medicines Facility for malaria (AMFm) program is an innovative financing mechanism with the primary objective of making Artemisinin based Combination Therapies (ACTs) affordable in both private and public health sectors, thereby increasing the uptake of ACTs while discouraging the use of Artemisinin monotherapy. This study aims to assess the implementation process of the AMFm initiative among the Licensed Chemical Sellers (LCS) and Community Pharmacists (CP) at Kpone-on-sea by assessing the knowledge and perception of the LCS/CP on the AMFm program, identifying the challenges encountered and assessing the outcome of the program. A cross sectional study was conducted to collect data on the awareness of the AMFm program, training in the management of malaria, challenges encountered during the implementation and outcome of the program by using structured questionnaire. The study population comprised the LCS/CPs at Kpone-on-sea and included 42facilities in the LCS/CP at Kpone-on Sea. Data was analyzed using Stata software version 12 for descriptive statistics and graphic representation of the findings. The results showed increased knowledge in the management of malaria among the LCS/CP during the training which was held prior to the implementation of the initiative. Activities to create awareness of the AMFm initiative during the implementation process resulted in a high demand of the co-paid ACTs. There was reduction of monotherapy sales/purchase at the facilities. There were however challenges in the availability and accessibility of co-paid ACTs. The implementation of the Pilot Phase1 of the AMFm initiative program was assessed as successful