ACTwatch project, Population Services International
Abstract
Alongside the public and non‐profit sectors, private commercial providers are also sources of malaria
treatment in Zambia. To design effective interventions for improved access to accurate diagnosis and
effective malaria treatment, there is a need to understand retailers' behaviour and identify the factors that
influence their stocking and pricing decisions. Private commercial retailers are the last link in a chain of
manufacturers, importers and wholesalers, and their supply sources are likely to have an important
influence on the price and quality of malaria treatment that consumers can access. However, there is limited
rigorous evidence on the structure and operation of the distribution chain for antimalarial drugs that serves
the retail sector.
The ACTwatch Supply Chain Study, one of the ACTwatch project components, aims to address this gap by
conducting quantitative and qualitative studies on distribution chains for antimalarials in the ACTwatch
countries (Zambia, Cambodia, Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Nigeria and
Uganda). This report presents the results from qualitative interviews with antimalarial drug wholesalers,
retailers and other key stakeholders conducted in Zambia between February and May 2009. A summary of
the key findings is given below. To provide a complete description of the supply chain for antimalarial drugs,
this report should be read in conjunction with the report on the results of the structured supply chain survey
also conducted as part of this study, available at www.actwatch.info