SEAM: Country Programs: El Salvador

El Salvador

	Country Assessment
	Country Strategy
	Country Initiatives

Internet Products and Electronic Tools

Conferences

Tools & Resources

Site Map

El Salvador - Country Strategy

Why El Salvador?

Among the factors influencing the selection of El Salvador were—

Private Sector Capacity. The likelihood of successful implementation is quite high. At least two commercial firms provide inventory management and distribution services to private firms in El Salvador, and at least five companies have the capability to provide such services to the MSPAS.

Feasible Technical Intervention. The approach of working with commercial wholesalers is expected to achieve effective and cost-efficient inventory management and distribution services in the public sector. Improvements in cost-efficiency will enable the Government to provide broader coverage, particularly to rural and poor segments of the population.

Political Support and Commitment to Health Sector Reform. The Government of El Salvador is currently implementing health sector reforms, and the proposed supply-based system would help to effectively serve decentralized hospitals and the network of outpatient facilities. There is also political support from members of the Legislative Assembly, including the President of the Health Commission.

El Salvador's Strategy

Improving Pharmaceutical Supply in Decentralized Public Sector

SEAM will provide limited technical assistance to the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare to implement a pharmaceutical-supply system based on the use of a single commercial wholesaler.

This system will serve a network of 30 hospitals and 324 clinics, and its implementation will improve the accessibility, affordability, and quality of essential medicines in El Salvador. The Ministry will tender for products and their prices, but it will contract with a single distributor to manage purchase orders, storage, and distribution; the Ministry will also monitor the quality of pharmaceutical products ordered and purchased by network facilities.