Assessing the effect of the lack of pharmaceutical manufacturing on healthcare provision in Botswana

Abstract

Purpose: The lack of pharmaceutical products in Botswana has been a serious concern as citizens experience adverse health outcomes due to poor access to effective treatments. This study investigated the effect of the lack of pharmaceutical manufacturing on healthcare provision in Botswana. Systems Theory underpinned this study. This theory specifies the importance of component parts to work in unison to achieve a specific objective. An interpretivist research paradigm was adopted, which enhanced gaining knowledge on the fundamental reasons for the dearth of drugs/medicine in the Botswana healthcare system.

Methodology: A qualitative research approach and an exploratory research design were selected for this study. These two methods enhanced the interviewing thirty-four participants such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, inventory employees, and the public on the reasons for the shortage of drugs and how this affects citizens. Data were collected using open-ended interviews and responses were gathered from participants from a historical point of view. After the collection of data, an analysis was conducted using Atlas-ti Software (version 8.2). Themes and categories were generated and were discussed by corroborating them with the literature review findings.  

Findings: Findings from the study indicate that the reasons for medical stockout include poor planning by medical authorities, the emergence of new diseases, the lack of public private partnerships, logistic issues such as organizational red tape during tender decisions, ordering less than national demand by medical procurement officials, delays in import permits, delays by suppliers, and transportation challenges. The effects of medicine stockout include the healthcare system’s inability to cure diseases, an increase of deaths, failure to control disease, continued stockouts, worsening of sicknesses, non-compliance of patients, failure to meet treatment outcomes, and an increased cost of medicines. The study recommends among others, that the government should support local pharmaceutical manufacturing, allow private companies to participate, and discourage sole distributorship.                                                                 

Originality/Value: This research Assessing the effect of the lack of pharmaceutical manufacturing on healthcare provision in Botswana