Drug management in Tambon health promoting hospitals: a systematic review

Tambon Health Promoting Hospitals (THPHs) are the first level of public health service system. Before the health service system reform, the THPHs confronted inefficient drug management. Presently, drug management in THPHs develops and expands responsibility to conform health system reformation in Thailand. This study aimed to systematically review the drug management in THPHs to know the current situation of drug management including the efficiency of drug management and patient satisfaction after the reform of the health service system. A literature search was conducted in the ThaiLIS and the Health Systems Research Institute databases during 2004 to 2015. Results revealed the sixteen articles which met the inclusion criteria. The six dimensions of drug management tasks in THPHs which were used as the criteria consist of drug system management, medical supply management, inventory management, pharmaceutical care, home care pharmacy services and rational drug use promotion. It was found that most THPHs performed efficiently for drug management thus patients satisfied for their services. Moreover, some THPHs performed inefficiently on medical supply and inventory management. The problems and obstacles also revealed inadequacy of the staff and budget. Therefore, government should focus on proper resource allocation and provide crucial supports to enhance efficiency and quality of treatment to the patients.