Quality of cold storage drugs transportation and delivery to Thai Hospitals

Abstract

Background: In Thailand there is no regulation and standard guideline to control the quality of drug transportation, including cold storage drugs. Objective: To explore the condition of cold storage drugs transportation and delivery to general public hospitals, community hospitals and private hospitals. Material and Method: This is a cross-sectional survey research. There were 301 questionnaires returned from 720 questionnaires sent (41.8% response rate) Results: The serious problems of cold storage drugs on delivery were 1) Cold storage drugs (2° C-8° C) were delivered to the hospitals without controlled temperature boxes, was found in private, public and community hospitals at the rate of 46.7%, 48.3% and 72.9% respectively. 2) Cold storage drugs (-20° C,) i.e. polio vaccine came to the hospitals with a temperature higher than 8C or ice melting in the box, was found in private, public and community hospitals at the rate of 22.9%, 12.7% and 35.0% respectively Conclusion: There are differences in quality of cold storage drug transportation and delivery among types of hospitals. It is highly recommended that Thai FDA should develop a standard and implement the control system for logistics management of cold storage drugs.