Strengthening Drug and Therapeutics Committees to Promote Rational Medicine Use in Mozambique

Pharmaceutical and Supply Chain Management,
Technical Briefs & Case Studies

Strengthening Drug and Therapeutics Committees to Promote Rational Medicine Use in Mozambique

Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world, with approximately 70% of the population living below the poverty line in 2007. Many women and children are unable to access essential health services and medicine due to inadequate geographic coverage, financing, and available health professionals leading to high rates of neonatal and under-five mortality. Malaria accounts for approximately 26% of hospital deaths and dual infections of HIV, TB, and multidrug-resistant TB complicate the national TB program response. To support priority programs such as HIV prevention and treatment and maternal and child health, Mozambique’s Ministry of Health and the USAID-funded Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) Program established Drug and Therapeutics Committees (DTCs) and trained committee members to improve medicines management and use, with the goal of achieving good health outcomes.