Reforming Supportive Supervision of Medicines Management with an Audit Tool in Primary Health Care Facilities: a Case Study of Bahi District, Tanzania

Stock-out of essential medicines is a common problem in primary health facilities of Tanzania. Alternative approaches such as the use of auditing tools have been proposed in order to strengthen the generally weak supportive supervision in medicines management. A cross-sectional study was conducted in ten primary health facilities in Bahi District in Dodoma region-Tanzania between October and December, 2013. Standardized auditing tools and indicators were used to assess the availability of ten essential tracer medicines, timeliness and correctness of ordering, record keeping, documentation and financial management. Analysis was done by using MS Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel ® , Microsoft Corporation). Mean availability of tracer medicines was 84%. Rapid Diagnostic Tests for malaria, artemether-lumefantrine, amoxicillin syrup and amoxicillin capsules were mostly found to be out of stock. Nine of the ten facilities submitted their ordering forms on time but only six of the ten facilities filled their ordering forms correctly. In five facilities, financial records did not balance with bank statements and receipt books. Medicines audits represent a feasible approach to strengthen medicines management at primary health facilities. The study validated standardized and simple tools that can be used to reform routine supportive supervision methodology.