RPM Plus: What We Do: AMR - Establishing and Supporting Drug and Therapeutics Committees to Promote Rational Medicine Use in Jimma, Ethiopia

In August-September 2006, the Drug and Control Administration of Ethiopia and the USAID supported Rational Pharmaceutical Management (RPM) Plus of Management Sciences for Health (MSH) held a two-week National Training Course on Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) and Training of Trainers (TOT) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In the two months following the training, participants Dr. Tsinuel Girma, Pediatrician, and Mr. Fikru Worku, Chief Pharmacist, demonstrated the training’s success in the work they accomplished at their hospital—Jimma University Specialized Hospital in Jimma, Ethiopia.

Immediately following the training, Dr. Girma and Mr. Worku developed a workplan for DTC activities at their hospital. Ten days later (September 12), they developed a proposal for DTC training of hospital staff. The training took place on October 4–6 for 18 hospital staff from a range of departments and specialties. On October 6, the hospital staff training participants established a multidisciplinary DTC. By October 18, the newly formed Jimma University Specialized Hospital DTC held its first meeting and established a budget. On November 1, the DTC held a second meeting to finalize the committee’s terms of reference and action plans. A summary of the timeline follows.

Establishing a DTC at Jimma University Specialized Hospital

Date	Process
August 21 – September 2, 2006	Two-week training on DTC and TOT
September 2, 2006	Workplan developed for DTC activities
September 12, 2006	Proposal developed for DTC training of hospital staff
October 4–6, 2006	DTC training conducted for 18 multidisciplinary Jimma University Specialized Hospital staff
October 6, 2006	Multidisciplinary DTC established by hospital staff training participants
October 18, 2006	First DTC meeting held by DTC committee members and budget established
November 1, 2006	Second DTC meeting– finalized the terms of reference DTC action plans
November 22, 2006	Third DTC meeting – finalized the baseline survey tools, established Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting system and Drug Information Center (DIC)

Dr. Tsinuel Girma (left) and Mr. Fikru Worku

As a direct result of their active efforts, within two months of participating in the National DTC-TOT training course, Dr. Girma and Mr. Worku trained their colleagues and established a functioning DTC at Jimma University Specialized Hospital.

Dr. Girma shared what motivated him and his colleague, Mr. Worku, to advocate for and establish a DTC so rapidly in their hospital.

"Our vision in the long run is to make our hospital one of the models in Ethiopia in terms of drug management. We also want to make this a real training site for health professionals."

"The issue of drug supply management in our hospital is a major problem and needs urgent scientific solutions. We have to keep our promises and fulfill the responsibility given to us when our institution sent us for the DTC-TOT training. Last but not least is that it is always better to strike the hammer when the iron is hot!"

—Dr. Tsinuel Girma

In his application form sent two months prior to the National DTC-TOT Training Course, Mr. Worku clearly articulated his participation goal and action plan:

Promote awareness of the benefits of DTCs to health professionals
Conduct training on the establishment and function of a DTC
Establish and activate a DTC
Performance evaluation

Dr. Girma has been selected as the DTC Chairman with the responsibility to lead his team. Mr. Worku has been selected as the DTC Secretary.

Although faced with the usual challenges of health worker and financial shortages and high workload, Dr. Girma and Mr. Worku have demonstrated that sufficient motivation, team spirit, and planned effort can lead to quick results, even in resource-constrained settings.

<Back to DTC Highlights page