Browsing by Author "Niaz, Qamar"

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    Compliance to prescribing guidelines among public health care facilities in Namibia:
    (Springer, 2020) Niaz, Qamar; Godman, Brian; Campbell, Stephen; Kibuule, Dan
    Background The World Health Organization estimates that over 50% medicines are prescribed inappropriately and the main driver of antimicrobial resistance globally. There have only been a limited number of studies evaluating prescribing patterns against national standard treatment guidelines (STGs) in sub-Saharan African countries including Namibia. This is important given the high prevalence of both infectious and non-infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa alongside limited resources. Objective Our aim was to assess prescribing practices and drivers of compliance to National guidelines among public health care facilities in Namibia to provide future guidance. Setting Three levels of public healthcare in Namibia. Method A mixed method approach including patient exit and prescriber interviews at three levels of health care in Namibia, i.e. hospital, health centre and clinic. Main outcome measures Medicine prescribing indicators, compliance to and attitudes towards National guidelines. Results Of the 1243 prescriptions analysed, 73% complied with the STGs and 69% had an antibiotic. Of the 3759 medicines (i.e. mean of 3.0±1.1) prescribed, 64% were prescribed generically. The vast majority of prescribers were aware of, and had access to, the Namibian STGs (94.6%), with the majority reporting that the guidelines are easy to use and they regularly refer to them. The main drivers of compliance to guidelines were programmatic, that is access to up-to date objective guidelines, support systems for continued education on their use, and ease of referencing. Lack of systems to regulate noncompliance impacted on their use. Conclusion Whilst the fndings were encouraging, ongoing concerns included limited prescribing of generic medicines and high use of antibiotics. A prescribing performance management system should be introduced to improve and monitor compliance to prescribing guidelines in public healthcare. Keywords Compliance · Namibia · Prescribing indicators · Prescribing patterns · Qualitative research · Standard treatment guidelines
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    Emergency compounding of COVID-19 medicines:
    (2020) Mavu, Daniel; Mubita, Mwangana; Niaz, Qamar; Lusepani, Monde; Enkara, Tonata; Philomien, Aiases; Pick, Riana; Kibuule, Dan
    Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequitable access to medicines in sub-Saharan Africa, mainly due to limited capabilities for local manufacture. Aim: To describe priority medicine lists and critical skill sets required for an emergency compounding of COVID-19 medicines training programme. Methods: An evaluation of the COVID-19 emergency compounding readiness programme for the University of Namibia pharmacy graduates. The main outcomes were enhanced skill sets in compounding, quality control, and regulation of priority COVID-19 medicines. Data on outcomes were thematically analysed. Results: Fifty-eight pharmacy graduates demonstrated competence in emergency compounding, quality control, regulation, and provision of therapeutic information of COVID-19 medicines. A priority list and a skills set for emergency compounding of COVID-19 medicines were developed. Conclusions: The upskilling of pharmacy graduates on emergency compounding of COVID-19 medicines has the potential to address inequalities in the rapid response and control of epidemics.