Antibiotics dispensing by over the counter medicine sellers (OTCMS) in LMICs is a pharmaceutical regulatory issue which often creates tension between regulatory bodies and OTCMS. Findings from our previous studies revealed that training of OTCMS and Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) facilities to dispense specific antibiotics could be one of the context-specific solutions to improving access and use at the community level. Guided by a bottom-up research approach, we sought to build a trajectory moving what originated from the community level in our previous study for discussions with relevant stakeholders at the district, regional and national levels. There is general lack of consensus among stakeholders on whether OTCMS and CHPS should be trained to dispense specific antibiotics. Further stakeholder engagement is required as views on feasibility differ.
Our recently published work published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice is available here.
ABACUS project 