Drug Supply Chain Management and Implementation of Health Reform Plan in Teaching Hospital Pharmacies of Ahvaz, Iran

Background: Drugs play a strategic role as a health commodity. Thus, the supply chain management of drugs is an important issue to reducing costs and thereby improving patient health. Objective: This study evaluated the status of drug supply chain management and health reform in the pharmaceutical sector of teaching hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in pharmacies of teaching hospitals in Ahwaz, Iran in ۲۰۱۵. Data was collected through a checklist extracted from the Evaluation Checklist of the Food and Drug Deputy and related articles. The study checklist examined six dimensions of the Evaluation Checklist, including drug storage, administrative regulations, preparation of medicines, drug distribution, taking medication, and implementation of health reforms in the pharmaceutical sector. The content validity of the checklist was confirmed by experts and pharmaceutical specialists. Data was analyzed for descriptive characteristics such as frequency and percentage using EXCEL version ۲۰۱۰ software. Results: The findings show that hospitals met standards for administrative regulations with ۷۸.۵% and preparation of medicines with ۷۷.۲۵%. The dimensions of drug storage with ۷۴.۷۵%, taking medication with ۷۴.۲۵%, implementation of health reforms with ۷۱.۵%, and drug distribution with ۶۲.۵% were in a near-standard state. Conclusion: Supply chain management systems of medicines in teaching hospitals are near-standard. To improve hospitals, offering proper training to employees, using the fixed-rate shopping system, and providing facilities to patients are recommended.