Rapid Evaluation of Medicine Use and Pharmacovigilance in Angola

The objective of the evaluation was to assess the current pharmacovigilance situation and identify areas for improvement in medicine use and safety in Angola. The evaluation included interviews with health personnel at national, provincial, municipal, and health facility levels. The results showed that rational medicine use was a significant concern, with several problems identified, including poor handwriting and incomplete information on prescriptions, overuse of antibiotics, lack of training for prescribers, and poor availability of and compliance with standard treatment guidelines. The use of antibiotics in health facilities was estimated to range from 50% to 100% of medicines dispensed, although no concrete data were provided to support these estimates. The evaluation also found that the level of education among prescribers and dispensers in health facilities was generally low, contributing to poor adherence to standard treatment guidelines, poor patient adherence, and patients purchasing medicines without a prescription. The national pharmacovigilance unit has made some progress in establishing a pharmacovigilance system, with four to ten hospitals having formed pharmacy and therapeutics committees to guide medicine use and pharmacovigilance activities. However, the evaluation found that the reporting of adverse drug reactions and other safety issues was inadequate, with only a few hospitals having a system in place for reporting and monitoring adverse events. The evaluation identified several areas for improvement, including the need for better training for prescribers and dispensers, improved availability of and compliance with standard treatment guidelines, and enhanced pharmacovigilance activities. The evaluation recommended that the Ministry of Health and the National Directorate of Medicine and Equipment take steps to address these issues and improve medicine use and safety in Angola. The evaluation also highlighted the importance of strengthening the pharmacovigilance system, including the establishment of a national pharmacovigilance center, the development of a pharmacovigilance plan, and the implementation of a system for reporting and monitoring adverse events. The evaluation recommended that the Ministry of Health and the National Directorate of Medicine and Equipment work with international partners to support the development of a robust pharmacovigilance system in Angola. The evaluation was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the National Directorate of Medicine and Equipment, and other stakeholders, including the USAID/Angola health team and the SPS Angola staff. The evaluation team consisted of a team of experts in pharmacovigilance and medicine use, who conducted interviews and collected data from health facilities and other sources. The evaluation was funded by the USAID/Angola health team and the SPS Angola staff, and was conducted in accordance with the principles of good pharmacovigilance practices. The evaluation report provides a comprehensive overview of the current pharmacovigilance situation in Angola and identifies areas for improvement in medicine use and safety. The evaluation was conducted in three provinces, with a total of 15 health facilities visited. The evaluation team collected data on the use of medicines, the availability of and compliance with standard treatment guidelines, and the reporting of adverse drug reactions and other safety issues. The evaluation also conducted interviews with health personnel at national, provincial, municipal, and health facility levels. The evaluation found that the use of medicines in health facilities was not always rational, with several problems identified, including poor handwriting and incomplete information on prescriptions, overuse of antibiotics, lack of training for prescribers, and poor availability of and compliance with standard treatment guidelines. The evaluation also found that the level of education among prescribers and dispensers in health facilities was generally low, contributing to poor adherence to standard treatment guidelines, poor patient adherence, and patients purchasing medicines without a prescription. The evaluation recommended that the Ministry of Health and the National Directorate of Medicine and Equipment take steps to address these issues and improve medicine use and safety in Angola. The evaluation also highlighted the importance of strengthening the pharmacovigilance system, including the establishment of a national pharmacovigilance center, the development of a pharmacovigilance plan, and the implementation of a system for reporting and monitoring adverse events. The evaluation was conducted in three provinces, with a total of 15 health facilities visited. The evaluation team collected data on