Pharmaceutical quality and access in Nigeria: Evaluation of the mobile authentication technology and stakeholder perceptions on quality and access

Purpose: The purposes of this research are to evaluate the Mobile Authentication Technology and to identify wider issues related to accessibility of good quality medicines, from the perspective of Nigerian stakeholders. This will inform policies relating to availability and use of medicines.

Methods: The study is in two phases. The first phase involves quantitatively analysing metformin tablets (tagged GlucophageŽ and the cheapest available generic versions of metformin) randomly sampled from retail outlets in Lagos, Nigeria via Packaging analysis, Near Infra Red spectroscopy and High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The tagged GlucophageŽ samples were authenticated through Short Message Service (SMS). The responses obtained will be compared with results of the chemical analysis. The quality of the tagged GlucophageŽ samples will also be compared with the cheapest generic versions without the authentication tags. The second phase involves the use of semi-structured interview schedules for different groups of purposefully sampled stakeholders; consumers, medicine sellers (community pharmacists, Patent Medicine Vendors, traders) and Policy makers. Variables explored were adapted from the socio-technical framework. All quantitative data arising from the study will be analysed using the SPSS statistical software while Framework analysis will be used to analyse qualitative data.

Results: In total, 94 tagged GlucophageŽ samples (out of which 92 passed the SMS authentication while 2 could not be authenticated) and 88 generic metformin samples were obtained. Chemical analysis of all the samples is on-going. A total of 38 semi-structured interviews (8 community pharmacists, 5 patent medicine vendors, 6 traders, 4 policy makers and 15 consumers) were conducted. Qualitative analysis of the interviews is on-going.

Conclusion: This study will help to validate the Mobile Authentication Technology and explore issues related to accessibility of good quality medicines from an independent stand point. This will aid formulation of recommendations for its implementation and future expansion.