AID grant no. 518-0093-G-00-0245-00 to ASOPROFAR for a private pharmaceutical distribution project

ASOPROFAR will implement the project as part of its social program, called PROMESA. ASOPROFAR"s member firms have made a financial commitment to supply low-cost drugs to underserved populations for a period of five years. The project will provide ASOPROFAR with (1) funding for operational studies and market research in support of the opening of 60 new dispensaries (botiquines), which will be operated by nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations; and (2) support to facilitate improved control and distribution of drugs. The project will develop administrative and financial systems for controlling/monitoring: inventory, at both the central warehouse and the botiquines; the distribution of drugs from the pharmaceutical laboratories to warehouses and from warehouses to botiquines; purchases (warehouse level) and prices (botiquine level); the financial commitment of the participating pharmaceutical companies; prescription compliance; and the dissemination of materials to decisionmakers on the advantages of public-private partnerships in the provision of essential drugs. Training will be provided to personnel at both the warehouse and the botiquine level.