Table 1 Key features of the Rural Pharmacy Initiative
Key Feature | Description |
|---|---|
Buy-in and Support | Popular consensus that access to medicines is the number one health determinant in communities |
| Â | Involvement of Village Health Committees in the design of the RPI and refurbishment of pharmacy outlets |
| Â | Political will of the Kyrgyz authorities, and support from international organizations and the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund |
Cost Savings and Income | Co-location of RPI outlets in existing government- owned health clinics, resulting in free rent and utilities |
| Â | Co-location of the RPI headquarters in government offices in the capital city, resulting in free rent and utilities |
| Â | Revenue stream assured by contractual arrangement between RPI pharmacies and the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund for administration of state-funded medicines benefit |
Human Resources and Oversight | Contractual arrangements with existing nurses, paying them a modest bonus for their part-time pharmacy activities |
| Â | Availability of a highly-qualified pharmacist to manage the central RPI warehouse |
| Â | NGO managers' exceptional technical capacity in pharmaceutical management and their contributions of a great deal of personal time to support the RPI |