Combined On- and Off-Site Training Contributes to Strengthening the Unified Pharmaceutical System in the Dominican Republic

Implementing SUGEMI involved developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all system components, appointing personnel for National and Regional Pharmaceutical Units, and training on-site staff responsible for pharmaceutical supply management. Key personnel were involved early in the elaboration of SOPs and training activities, and SIAPS helped design and implement a 12-week on-site/off-site certificate course on pharmaceutical supply. Each of the six program modules included preparatory activities, on-site sessions, and on-the-job site practice. The course focused on topics such as legal framework, ethics, and humanization, as well as supply management concepts and tools. Rapid capacity building contributed to a nationwide implementation of SUGEMI in less than three years. Major interventions included training of National and Regional Pharmaceutical Unit staff members to replicate trainings for SUGEMI implementation in 1,105 primary care facilities and 143 hospitals. Two on-site/off-site courses were completed, with all students successfully fulfilling the academic requirements to obtain their certificates. Half of the graduates in the first course and all in the second were employed in a public health facility. The hybrid on-site/off-site approach directed toward health workers in the public sector assured reinforcement of theory through practical experience, implementation of a national pharmaceutical system, and immediate introduction of good pharmaceutical management practices in their particular labor sites. All trainings had an immediate operative purpose, fixing knowledge through practice. Involving personnel in the elaboration and training in implementing SOPs, and an on-site/off-site course simultaneously strengthened SUGEMI and built capacity of personnel in pharmaceutical supply management. The implementation of SUGEMI offers a unique opportunity to consolidate theoretical concepts with practical on-the-job experiences. The on-site/off-site training approach has been successful in building capacity and strengthening the unified pharmaceutical system in the Dominican Republic. The lessons learned from this experience can be applied to other countries implementing similar national pharmaceutical systems.