Systematic review of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the availability of essential medicines for noncommunicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa

Mayer, Julide; Lena, Nicola; Yuill, Kathryn; Adukwu, Emmanuel

Abstract

Aims. The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the global healthcare landscape, significantly impacting the availability
and accessibility of essential medicines. This systematic review aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on the
supply of and access to the eleven medicines for non-communicable diseases defined as essential by the World Health
Organisation across 41 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods. This ongoing study was registered with the International
Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 31 January 2024 (CRD42024494532) and encompasses scientific
and grey literature in both English and French languages. For scientific literature, a comprehensive search was conducted
across seven bibliographic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Embase, MEDLINE, AJOL, and Research Gate). The collected
records were screened against eligibility and inclusion and exclusion criteria derived from the population, intervention,
context, and outcome (PICO) framework. A rigorous quality review will then be performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI)
Critical Appraisal tools. Similarly, relevant grey literature extracted from local Ministry of Health websites, international health
organizations, local health organizations, and trusted foundations will be qualitatively assessed using the AACODS checklist.
Subsequently, relevant data will be extracted and synthesized from the qualifying records. Results. For scientific literature, the
database search yielded 341 records, out of which 17 met the PICO criteria. Approximately 10% of the countries in SubSaharan Africa are expected to be represented by the scientific literature that passes the quality assessment. Preliminary
findings so far highlight three primary challenges: the accessibility, affordability, and availability of essential medicines during
the pandemic in SSA. Conclusions. Preliminary results highlight 3 critical challenges faced by patients with non-communicable
diseases during COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: accessibility, affordability, and availability of essential medicines. These
challenges significantly compromise patients' quality of life, health, and safety, highlighting this critical need for targeted
interventions in the region, including the promotion of local pharmaceutical production, to enhance healthcare resilience in the
region.

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: American Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists 2024
• Start Date: Nov 13, 2024
• End Date: Nov 17, 2024
• Deposit Date: Dec 18, 2024
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13536534
• External URL: www.abrcms.com