A Prompt Response to COVID-19 Pandemic 2020: Delivery of Medications for Care Recipients of NCD Clinics at National Hospital Kandy, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The Government of Sri Lanka realised the possibility of COVID-19 becoming a pandemic and its probability of reaching Sri Lanka, even before the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 as a pandemic. GOSL adopted a strategy focusing on minimising the risk of entry, containment, flattening the curve and minimising fatalities. To ensure social distancing for persons with chronic illnesses, a guideline was issued to deliver the medications to the doorstep of the care recipients who attend the government sector hospital clinics for Non-Communicable Diseases. To facilitate the delivery of medications, National Hospital, Kandy decided to use Patient Information Management systems available at the hospital. The care recipients were contacted over the phone, and their data was taken and fed into the electronic systems. Medical officers entered relevant prescriptions to the system, and then electronic prescriptions were used by the pharmacy for dispensing medications. Insulin was delivered to care recipients through primary and secondary hospitals of the Department of Health Services of Central Province with the help of Regional Director of Health Services Kandy. All other medications were seal packed and delivered via the Department of Posts-Sri Lanka. There were several challenges, including staff training, process flow issues, the inadequacy of resources and change management concerns regarding the procedure. Despite the challenges, 90% of care recipients of Non-Communicable Diseases clinics were registered to the system, electronic prescriptions were issued, and medications were delivered to them through the government postal service. This demonstrated that during COVID-19 pandemic, institutions under three different government sector organisations in the Central Province were able to collaborate and efficiently adapt to the urgent, unexpected situations.