The Economic Rationale for Quality-Assured Uterotonics in Advancing Universal Health Coverage

Maternal mortality and morbidity from postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) could be significantly reduced through the effective use of quality-assured, preventive uterotonic drugs during the third stage of labour. However, poor-quality uterotonics remain widespread in LMICs due to multiple challenges across the supply chain - from manufacturing and transport to procurement and storage.

Concept Foundation, in partnership with the University of North Carolina, conducted case studies in three sub-Saharan African countries, highlighting the critical importance of safeguarding uterotonic medicines quality in LMICs to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We modelled the health and economic burden of poor-quality uterotonics in Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal, as well as the benefits of improving uterotonic quality from the perspectives of governments, healthcare providers, payors, and families.