Drug Revolving Fund Program Evaluation from the Point of Rural Development Participation in the Philippines

Abstract

Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) is one of the most well-known community financing systems, especially in rural areas of developing countries. Despite many evaluations on their financial management, little attention has been given to the participation of community people.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate how local community and government participation relate to the sustainability of DRF programs. This report targeted three types of DRF programs that were previously implemented in the Philippines: Botica sa Barangay, Botica Binhi, and Botica ng Barangay. Botica Binhi, which was established as a project of the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) Mother and Children Health Team in Tarlac and Zambales provinces, was investigated in detail.

This analysis focuses on the roles of three organizations in DRF programs: the local community, local government, and NGOs or foreign agencies. Interviews were conducted with community collaborative pharmacy workers regarding the relation of sustainability and community involvement. The main results can be summarized as follows: 1. DRF programs were characterized by many roles and responsibilities, so sustainability of programs depends on how the roles are shared among related organizations. 2. The community pharmacies were profitable, but easy access to the drugs such as antibiotics brought about no benefit or even harm to buyers unless rational use.

In this study, I suggest that the purpose of DRF programs include the promotion of Primary Health Care, so donors must make common understanding of PHC with counterparts. To sustain DRF programs, it is important to first promote them to local communities and governments to encourage the positive participation of residents.