Primary Health Care
1- Are all Primary Healthcare Centers and dispensaries entitled to essential drugs?
Only Primary Health care (PHC) centers that are within the National Network of Primary Care Centers are entitled to essential drugs provided by MoPH (PHC Department). Dispensaries cannot benefit from this service.
2- How does a PHC center order drugs from the Ministry (PHC Department)?
To receive essential drugs, PHC centers send an Essential Drugs Request (EDR) to MoPH-PHC coordinator in each district specifying the type and quantities of drugs needed. The request is then signed by MoPH- Head of PHC Department. Once approved, the order is transferred to the central warehouse. The responsible authority at the warehouse then agrees on a date with the PHC center to receive the requested drugs.
| Tasks | Responsible Entity/Person |
|---|---|
| Payment of drugs & vaccines | MoPH |
| Procurement of vaccines | UNICEF |
| Procurement of essential drugs for acute illnesses | UNICEF |
| Procurement of essential drugs for chronic diseases | YMCA |
| Procurement of Reproductive Health drugs | UNFPA |
| Completion of the Essential Drug Request (EDR) form and sending it to MoPH (PHC Department) | PHCs (MoPH network only) |
| Review of the EDR and communicating the reviewed version with the PHC center | MoPH (PHC Department), PHC Coordinator |
| Approval of the revised EDR | Head of PHC Department at MoPH |
| Sending of the approved EDR to central warehouse | MoPH (PHC Department) |
| Preparation of the quantities based on he approved EDR and arranging date of receiving with the PHC center | Central Warehouse (Carantina) |
3- Why does MoPH occasionally reduce the quantity of essential drugs requested by the PHC Centers?
MoPH (PHC Department) reserves the right to adjust the quantities to meet the needs of a more realistic projected number of beneficiaries. This adjustment is based on previous reports on the number of beneficiaries at PHC centers in addition to the input from MoPH PHC Coordinators of the different regions.
MoPH has a responsibility to allocate existing resources based on actual need in order to prevent waste and/or inequity between the regions.
MoPH has a responsibility to allocate existing resources based on actual need in order to prevent waste and/or inequity between the regions.
4- Why are there occasional delays/shortages in drugs?
Some delays are due to failure in procurement of drugs by the responsible agencies (in this case, UNICEF and/or YMCA).
Occasionally, some drugs stop arriving to Lebanon due to international shortages (i.e. the quantity of drugs produced does not correspond to the international demand for those drugs).
YMCA also occasionally receives donations of certain drugs that are not within the MoPH Essential Drug List. These drugs are distributed to the PHC centers in the YMCA network and then discontinued when the donated stock is depleted. YMCA does not renew this stock because the drug is not on the essential list. Some PHCs report this as a shortage when in fact, it isn’t.
These are the only instances where the MoPH cannot provide the PHC centers with the requested (and approved) drug on time. In those instances, MoPH follows the issue closely with the procuring agencies in order to speed up the process. The MoPH never denies access to a requested and approved drug if it is available at the central warehouse (Carantina).
Occasionally, some drugs stop arriving to Lebanon due to international shortages (i.e. the quantity of drugs produced does not correspond to the international demand for those drugs).
YMCA also occasionally receives donations of certain drugs that are not within the MoPH Essential Drug List. These drugs are distributed to the PHC centers in the YMCA network and then discontinued when the donated stock is depleted. YMCA does not renew this stock because the drug is not on the essential list. Some PHCs report this as a shortage when in fact, it isn’t.
These are the only instances where the MoPH cannot provide the PHC centers with the requested (and approved) drug on time. In those instances, MoPH follows the issue closely with the procuring agencies in order to speed up the process. The MoPH never denies access to a requested and approved drug if it is available at the central warehouse (Carantina).
5- How can PHC centers determine drugs that are delayed?
It is the responsibility of the procuring agencies (UNICEF and YMCA) to inform MoPH (PHC Department) of any delays or shortages as soon as they are made aware of them. This information will then be communicated by MoPH (PHC Department) to the PHC centers.
6- In case of further inquiries, contact the concerned PHC coordinator as follows:
| Area | Coordinator | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beirut & Mount Lebanon | Wafaa Kenaan Rima Shaya Ghrayzi Rana Raad |
wafakan@hotmail.com rgs066@gmail.com ranaraad76@gmail.com |
01-611174/5 70-982290 03-581727 03-419079 |
| Bekaa | Safaa Sleiman | safaa.hajjsleiman@net.usj.edu.lb | 71-292091 08-823415 |
| North | Ramia Assaad Sandy Lahham |
ramia.assad@hotmail.com sandylaham@gmail.com |
70-175271 06-690024 03-973743 01-611174/5 |
| South | Faten Mustafa | fatenmoustafa@hotmail.com | 70-518322 07-739183 |
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