Abstract

DEL CACHO-DEL CACHO, María Elena et al. Pharmaceutical humanitarian assistance in the establishment of a drug compounding laboratory in a refugee camp. Farm Hosp. [online]. 2021, vol.45, n.5, pp.262-267.  Epub Jan 16, 2023. ISSN 2171-8695.  https://dx.doi.org/10.7399/fh.11706.

In 1992 Medicus Mundi Mediterrània and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic spearheaded a cooperation project to set up a small drug compounding laboratory in the Sahrawi refugee camps located in the desert town of Rabouni (Algeria’s Tindouf province). The goal of the project was to build a drug compounding facility, create a training center for local staff, and ensure local production of medicines in cases of inadequate supply.

With the help of external experts and of multiple public and private organizations and institutions, a small compounding laboratory was established with separate work areas, similar to the lines of the laboratories found in Spanish hospitals. The laboratory now has a stable team of 10-12 pharmacy technicians led by a pharmacist. In the last 25 years, 40 Sahrawis have been trained through internships in hospital pharmacy departments abroad, visits to drug compounding labs in other countries, tutoring, and ongoing training programs. Products that can be compounded in the laboratory include capsules, oral solutions, creams and ointments, topical solutions, eye drops, and sterile irrigation and lavage solutions. Over fifty different formulations of varying degrees of complexity have been prepared. One of the most significant challenges, given the political situation and the geographical environment, has been the procurement and transportation of the active ingredients and the packaging materials/equipment required for the compounding process. After 25 years of continuous work, this project is now a reality thanks to the effort and direct involvement of the Sahrawi people. The experience gained in the last few years has shown the importance of coordinating drug preparation with local prescribing physicians, as well as having quality standards and facilities with homologated low complexity basic equipment that allows, in other areas that is required, the replication of this model.

Keywords : Pharmaceutical humanitarian assistance; Refugees; Low-income countries; International cooperation; Drug compounding.

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