Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of contemporary health systems issues related to improving access to essential medicines, which includes many antimicrobials. Key conceptual frameworks are presented that guide the exploration of challenges to improving sustainable access, including appropriate use of medicines, as well the design and evaluation of interventions. Critical topical areas that have emerged as a result of the push to rapidly implement global programs that have a strong focus on improving access to antimicrobials are highlighted. Finally, a case study is presented to illustrate how a health systems approach was applied to guide the design of an intervention to improve access to and use of medicines, including antimicrobials, in Tanzania.
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Notes
- 1.
For detailed discussion of best practices for each set of activities, see MSH n.d.
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Acknowledgments
The Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems (SPS) Program is supported by the US Agency for International Development under the terms of cooperative agreement number GHN-A-00-07-00002-00 with Management Sciences for Health. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Agency for International Development.
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Miralles, M.A. (2010). Strengthening Health Systems to Improve Access to Antimicrobials and the Containment of Resistance. In: Sosa, A., Byarugaba, D., Amábile-Cuevas, C., Hsueh, PR., Kariuki, S., Okeke, I. (eds) Antimicrobial Resistance in Developing Countries. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-89370-9_22
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