E-drug: Siting policies for retail/community pharmacies (cont'd)
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In Eritrea, in accordance with the drug legislation, the Ministry of
Health can decide on where new pharmacies are opened. At the
time of the publication of the new drug legislation in 1993, most
retail pharmacies were concentrated in the capital city. So, with the
aim of promoting equitable distribution, the Ministry adopted a
policy of not issuing any more licences for opening retail
pharmacies in the capital city. That policy is still effective. As a
result, the spread of retail pharmacies in the country is better
today.
The Ministry can also regulate the distance between two
pharmacies.
Another method to improve the accessibility of drugs in
underserved rural areas has been to permit less qualified persons
to open pharmacies ""rural drug shops", to sell a limited number of
essential drugs.
Kidane Woldeyesus
Former Head Dep of Pharmaceutical Services
Ministry of Health, Eritrea
E-mail: K.Woldeyesus@Bradford.ac.uk
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