University of Gondar hospital launches Auditable Pharmaceutical Transaction and Service (APTS)
University of Gondar hospital has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to enhance its organizational performance by introducing the nationally advocated initiative of APTS. Delegates from Ministry of health, Gondar University Hospital, representative from medical fraternity and health staff attended the launching ceremony held on January 21, 2015.
In Explaining what the APTS system is, in his keynote remark, Dr. Abreham Endeshaw, Medical Service Directorate, Director, FMOH, said “APTS is a service delivery arrangement that enables to establish a transparent and accountable medicines transaction and service provision system at health facilities that can be audited at any time”.
An important component of the health system is ensuring availability of medicines and improving transparency and accountability in the practice of medicines transactions and provision of pharmaceutical services. It is also very crucial to reduce wastage, product diversion from facility and increase revenues of health facilities from sales of medicines.
In this regard, Dr Abrham said, “APTS initiative helps ensuring the availability of hospital specific essential drugs by 100% and specialty drugs by 70%. It also helps for introducing transparency, and accountability in the pharmaceutical services.
To this end, Dr. Abreham said that Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with RHBs and partners has launched the APTS initiative to be implemented nationally in all hospitals prioritizing hospitals with high volumes and federal hospitals. The APTS, although implemented at the facility level will be governed by a high level executive committee chaired by HE the Minister of Health and a command post of technical experts established under the Medical Services Directorate
According to the ministry of health, the APTS has five pillars: Efficient budget utilization, transparent and accountable transactions, reliable information, effective performance measurement and workforce deployment and improved customer satisfactions.
Besides, the initiative has three pronged approaches where on one hand efforts are made to avail hospital specific essential and specialty drugs, at the same time improving the national capacity for long term quantification, as well as creating accountability and transparency in pharmaceutical and financial transactions.
Recalling the National Clean hospital initiative forum held before, Dr Abrham said that it is a National initiative to bring in clean health care facility and to provide clean and comfortable hospital environment for the public for which the Ministry of health is striving and doing its part. He noted that the APTS is part and parcel of the national clean hospital initiative which is off course a collective endeavor that needs every citizen’s participation.
Prof. Mengesha Admasu, President University of Gondar speaking on the occasion said that for the first time an effective and efficient drug distribution system through APTS has been established. It is one of the best efficient methods of providing drugs without any waste of time and efforts.
Drugs hereafter will be distributed through seven window system where seven professionals can provide drugs to seven patients simultaneously by the new APTS system as president underscored. Ensuring the continuous availability of safe, affordable pharmaceuticals (medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and other medical supplies) of assured quality is very important to achieve the health system goals.
Explaining the role of University of Gondar, the President proudly pronounced that UoG will strive to satisfy the community and serve the society by providing well trained professionals who can run the APTS system efficiently and train the patients regarding the usage of drugs.
Ato Edmealem Ejigu, Deputy Country project director, USAID SIAPS program, in his briefings during the launching ceremony also outlined the journey that his mother institution traveled with the University, starting from facilitating the necessary trainings for the responsible bodies beforehand, till the last day on which the long awaited innovative idea of APTS has been launched.
Dr. Desalegn Tigabu, CEO, Gondar University Hospital, in his part stated that APTS enables us to realize good governance at health facilities by ensuring transparency and accountability in the way medicines are managed at hospitals and health centers. It enhances efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of pharmacy services by improving the overall performance of the pharmacy unit at health facilities and by doing so; it contributes to efficient resource utilization, improved client satisfaction and better health outcome
Finally Dr. Desalegn thanked all stakeholders involved throughout the process of the newly implemented APTS system.
January 2015
Public & International Relations Directorate
University of Gondar
