Sustainable access to affordable,high-quality medicines is an important component in allhealth care systems but remains limited in many Africancountries. Supply and distribution of medicines are afundamental aspect of the success of any health system.Disruptions to this supply undermine health outcomes assupply chains have an impact on the availability, cost, andquality of medicines for patients. Common problemsassociated with the supply and distribution ofpharmaceuticals often include poor supply chain management,stock pilfering, insufficient human resources, and limitedfinancing resulting in chronic stock outs. In resource-poorsettings where public services fail to meet demand, theprivate and voluntary sectors are increasingly being calledon, prompting some policy makers to consider privatemechanisms as alternatives to state-run drug procurement anddistribution systems. This study reviews some of the ways inwhich some countries in Africa organize their privatepharmaceutical supply and distribution channels, focusing onthree diverse countries: Ghana, Malawi, and Mali. Itdiscusses some of the strengths and challenges associatedwith such arrangements, as well as relevant options toimprove access, availability, quality and affordability ofprivately supplied pharmaceuticals.
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