1. A joint Lesotho-UNDP-SARPAM Workshop- CSO Consultation Meeting
Access to Medicines problems in Lesotho
Presented by: Mrs Thakane Kotelo
Executive Director – Phelisanang Bophelong
2/25/2019
CSOs Health Advocacy Forum

2. What is influencing Access to medicines
Rational Use
People get treatment with all instructions when sick
Take Medication for a few days
Feel better and stop treatment
Stay with a pile of unused medication
Meanwhile, people who need it most are unable to get it due to stock-outs
2/25/2019
CSOs Health Advocacy Forum

3. What is influencing Access to medicines (contd….)
Affordability of prices
Some medication is expensive and government does not order it yet there is need!
Some meds need to be bought from private pharmacies (demand drives the price)
Poor service delivery leads to patients resorting to private practitioners – very expensive – no sustainability
Some people resort to untested/unapproved herbal remedies
2/25/2019
CSOs Health Advocacy Forum

4. What is influencing Access to medicines (contd….)
Sustainable Financing
Lack of sufficient budget for MOH leads to DEPENDENCY on donations (GFATM & Development Partner)
Rise of Untested/Unapproved Herbal treatments
Uncontrolled advertisement of bogus doctors and medication [No funding to control this]
2/25/2019
CSOs Health Advocacy Forum

5. What is influencing Access to medicines (contd….)
Un-Reliable health supply systems??
Results in Drug Stock Outs
Poor control for expiries in medication
Poor delivery system for medication in remote areas
Poor HR control on movement of staff (absenteeism in remote health facilities)
2/25/2019
CSOs Health Advocacy Forum

6. Factors affecting access to medicine in Lesotho
Limited Human Resources for health
Poor Dr-Patient ratios (# of Drs too low)
Low # of qualified professionals in remote facilities
Poor treatment of patients by the few available health professionals
Fatigue caused by high # of patients per day leads to lots of mistakes in prescriptions
Ill-treatment of some communities such as LGBTIs
2/25/2019
CSOs Health Advocacy Forum

7. Factors affecting access to medicine in Lesotho (contd….)
Far to reach health facilities
Are poorly staffed
Don’t get supplies on time
Lots of patients don’t attend check-ups on time due to terrain
Poor supply management practices
Staff not trained on stock control
Late orders/supplies
2/25/2019
CSOs Health Advocacy Forum

8. The Main Problem of Access to Essential Medicines
Stock-outs which lead to:
Patients taking only part of treatment
Patients defaulting entirely
Loss of trust in the health system
2/25/2019
CSOs Health Advocacy Forum

9. Eventually…. for ARVs and TB meds
If quality and quantity is insufficient, the following problems will be incurred:
Risk of treatment failure
Development of resistance
Increased risk of Opportunistic Infections
A high prevalence rate
Increased number of deaths
2/25/2019
CSOs Health Advocacy Forum

10. CSOs Health Advocacy Forum
What should we do to address the problems of access to medicines in Lesotho???
It’s all in our hands!!!
2/25/2019
CSOs Health Advocacy Forum