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Despite the introduction of the ILS in Tanzania, still there is inadequate supply of
essential medicine in public health facilities. The main evaluation question for this study
was on the influencing factors for the performance of ILS with respect to availability of
essential medicine, timeliness of delivery, order fulfillment rate, and storage practice.
The specific evaluation questions were: (i) To what extent R&R forms are timely
submitted? (ii) To what level are ILS tools available and utilized? (iii) To what degree
are providers trained on ILS? (iv) To what scale are supervisions conducted?
Descriptive cross section study design was used to study 15 public facilities in Rukwa
region. These facilities included 3 health centers and 12 dispensaries from Sumbawanga
district, Kalambo district, and Sumbawanga Municipal. Primary data were collected
using structured questionnaires to respondents and observations using checklists.
Secondary data were collected from documents and the ILS website.
The findings showed that the average availability for essential commodities in the region
was 78%. The average lead time (timeliness of delivery) was 75 days, and fulfillment
rate was 39.7%. Timely submission of R&R forms was 46.7%. The completeness of
R&R forms was 20%. Training coverage was 67%, and supervision coverage ranged
from 14.7% to 27%. Hence factors affecting the performance of ILS were: Timeliness of
reporting, availability and use of IS tools, training and supervision.
The performance of ILS in public health facilities is still low, with respect to availability
of medicine, lead time, and fulfillment rate and storage practice. If CHMTs are not
putting an emphasis on making sure that R&R forms are timely submitted, ILS tools are
available and utilized properly, on job training are conducted, and regular supportive
supervisions are conducted, then the performance of ILS will be even worse for this
reason stock out problem will never be solved. |
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