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Table 1 Key dimensions, related challenges, and opportunities with regard to public-sector contracting of retail pharmacies

From: Contracting retail pharmacies as a source of essential medicines for public sector clients in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review of key considerations, challenges, and opportunities

Key dimensions

Key challenges

Opportunities to address challenges

Governance and regulation of the contract

Balancing business viability with affordability of goods and services

Contract-based business incentives, e.g.:

• Unit responsible for setting reimbursement prices;

• Participation of pharmacies in public procurement;

• Support from Pharmacy Services Administrative Organizations (PSAO)

• Digital tools to support retail pharmacy management, etc.

Accessibility

Incentivizing geographically equitable access to medicines

•Procurement and health insurance policies that support local supply chains and pharmaceutical markets;

• Provisions for stock financing to grow accessibility

Quality of Care

Ensuring quality of products, care, and delivery of services

• Supervisions, audit, and inspection of private sector quality of products and care

Patient-centered pharmaceutical care

Task-sharing from primary care providers to pharmacies

• Financial incentives to retain qualified personnel

• Training and continuous professional education for pharmacy staff

Human resource and capacity constraints