Bridging The Gap: Examining the Accessibility of Essential Medicines and COVID Readiness in the South Pacific Region

Abstract

This thesis examines the overall access to medicines in the South Pacific Region (SPR) with the penultimate chapter focusing on the impact of COVID-19. This was primarily achieved by implementing the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI) methodology in several countries within the SPR. In doing so, several systemic barriers to appropriate medicine access have been identified. For each of which, strategies to navigate these have been offered.

Amidst this body of work are two studies that employed an iteration of the WHO/HAI survey to specifically investigate the access to diabetes-related medicines (specifically insulin) and devices (self-monitoring blood glucose devices (SMBGs)). These studies revealed the stark reality of managing diabetes in the SPR, particularly the extreme costs associated with treatment and a sheer lack of insulin and SMBG access. Suggestions on how best to navigate this situation have been provided throughout. As mentioned, the penultimate chapter addresses the impact COVID-19 has had on the practice of hospital pharmacy in the SPR. Findings were consistent with the broader literature, suggesting that the healthcare system was placed under immense strain due to staff shortages, staff burnout, medication shortages and other logistical challenges. Some recommendations on how to best navigate pandemics in the future have also been provided. By combining updated data with actionable insights, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of medicine accessibility in the SPR, contributing to global discussions on health equity and pandemic preparedness while guiding policy and advocacy efforts in resource-limited settings.