N Wadonda Kabondo, Dr¹, Anne Reeler, Dr¹, Samson Kironde, Dr¹, Konji Sebati, MD², Heather Lauver, Ms², and Joseph Saba, Dr¹. (1) Axios, Plot 1, Pilkington Road, Workers House Building 6th Floor, Kampala, Uganda, +256 41 340 806/7, Axios@axiosint.com, (2) Pfizer, 235 East 42nd Street, 235/7/22, New York, NY 10017

Background:

The Pfizer Diflucan Partnership Program (DPP) donates Diflucan (fluconazole) for cryptococcal meningitis (CM) and oesophageal candidiasis and trains in their diagnosis/treatment. DPP has benefited 26 institutions from 20 countries covering 915 health care sites. Hypothesis: DPP eligibility/reporting criteria may have a positive effect on institutions in terms of diagnostics, referral, dispensing, follow-up of chronic patients and training. 6 institutions, participating for at least 1 year, were selected for study. Results from one Tanzanian district hospital are presented and all results will be available for the conference.

Methods:

Qualitative and quantitative methods were used. Clinicians, administrators, lab and pharmacy staff were interviewed; patients data from exit interviews and case studies; treatment sessions and laboratory stocks observed using check-lists; patient and lab records were compared now and a year ago for diagnostic procedures and treatment.

Results:

The study found 3 DPP related impacts on the hospital:

• 1. Increased prescriber attention to look for CM when patients present with symptoms – increase in cerebral spinal fluid analyses from 68 in Q4/2002 to 90 in Q4/2003

• 2. Changes in CM diagnostic procedures, at insistence of clinicians, from microscopy only to more precise cryptococcal culture – no culture done in 2002 but 8 done in Q4/2003 for CM to validate gram stain tests (2 false negatives found)

• 3. Access to other donation programs (PMTCT) due to experiences with DPP.

Conclusion:

Drug donation programs such as DPP can have a positive impact on health care institutions’ capacity to diagnose and treat chronic diseases

Learning Objectives:

• DPP Institutional impact
• 1. The participants will be able to evaluate the institutional impact of a donation or access to new drugs through use of a validated methodology
• 2. Participants will be able to develop a study of institutional impact in any institution chosen by participants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.