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IDENTIFICATION OF PRIORITY ISSUES IN THE POLICY OF ACCESS
AND USE OF MEDICINAL PRODUCTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO


Mokoko JB(a*), Ntsama EC(b), Itiere FA(a), Ondzotto G(a)
Page No. 14-22


Abstract

The identification of priority research questions in the field of drug access and use policy in
francophone countries of Central Africa, low- and middle-income countries in the Congo was
carried out by a national investigator in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire and Kinkala from February to
April 2011. Four (4) questionnaires were developed to collect the perceptions of various
stakeholders in access to medicines in Congo namely individuals / households, opinion leaders,
drug professionals and decision makers. Each questionnaire included questions related to the four
components of access to medicines: geographical, financial, availability and acceptability. One
hundred and ten (110) people agreed to participate, ie 50 individuals / households, 21 drug
professionals, 18 opinion leaders and 21 decision makers. The financial component emerged as the
main barrier to access to medicines. Public hospitals have been described as offering better prices
than private pharmacies; the illicit market for the sale of medicines, alternative medicines and
beliefs have been presented as alternatives for those who are unable to pay for drugs in the formal
circuit. Concerning the geographical component, the existence of inequalities in the geographical
distribution of drug dispensing structures has been declared. In terms of availability, in terms of
drug supply, individuals / households and opinion leaders responded that it was common to have to
go to several places to meet the needs of a medical prescription. As regards acceptability, various
recourse to care has been designated: the hospital, self-medication, traditional practitioners, the
illicit market, churches,
Fourteen (14) research questions were developed from the barriers identified in the health system. A
ranking in order of priority has been proposed.


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