ABSTRACT

Context: The “out of stock syndrome” and irrational drug use with their associated consequences that characterized our health facilities informed the investigations of the operations and management of the drug revolving fund, drug availability and affordability and rational use of drug in General Hospital, Toro, Bauchi State.

Objectives: To evaluate the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) operations in relation to drug procurement procedures, its management at the facility, drug availability, accessibility, affordability to patients and its rational use in General Hospital, Toro, Bauchi State.

Methods: An interview schedule was used to collect information from the

Principal Medical Officer In charge, the Hospital Secretary and Pharmacist In-Charge on methods of drug procurement, its management and cost recovery. Furthermore, on-site inspection of storage facilities and drug stock using a storage facility checklist and a checklist of selected key drugs to collect data on method of storage and drug availability respectively was carried out..

In addition, a cross-sectional descriptive, study using structured interview-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information from 520 patients at the Outpatient Department of the same facility on drug availability of prescribed drugs, affordability and rational drug use in the facility.

Results: The result showed that the state government is responsible for drug

procurement, which is by contract purchase. The operation and management is

by cost recovery system. Of the 520 patients interviewed, 386 (74.2%) of them acknowledge that the hospital prices of drug were cheaper than other source