Improving the Availability of Misoprostol in Central America
LOCATION:
Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Panamá
PARTNER:
OASIS Initiative
FUNDER:
Morris S. Smith Foundation
An average of 16 women in Central America die every day from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.
THE NEED:
Postpartum hemorrhage accounts for nearly 35% of maternal deaths globally, the majority of which occur in low and lower middle-income countries where women have poor access to health facilities. These deaths are preventable. Misoprostol is included on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines because of its proven safety and efficacy. The problem is that while many countries in Central America have registered misoprostol, it is not widely available to those who need it.
OUR APPROACH:
We are working to identify the barriers that prevent misoprostol from getting into the hands of women who need it. This process involves investigating its registration status, ensuring that the brands that are registered are high quality, reviewing medical protocols, identifying blocks in the procurement/distribution chain, reviewing regulations on the drugs, and checking on whether it’s available in most pharmacies. Our goal with this research is to improve its overall accessibility in the region.