Guidelines for the Storage of Essential Medicines and Other Health ...

DELIVERDELIVER, a five-year worldwide technical assistance support contract, is funded bythe Commodities Security and Logistics Division (CSL) of the Office of Populationand Reproductive Health of the Bureau for Global Health (GH) of the U.S. Agencyfor International Development (USAID).Implemented by John Snow, Inc. (JSI), (contract no. HRN-C-00-00-00010-00), andsubcontractors (Manoff Group; Program for Appropriate Technology in Health [PATH];Social Sectors Development Strategies, Inc.; Synaxis, Inc.; Boston University Centerfor International Health; Crown Agents Consultancy, Inc.; Harvard University HealthSystems Group; and Social Sectors Development Strategies), DELIVER strengthensthe supply chains of health and family planning programs in developing countries toensure the availability of critical health products for customers. DELIVER also providestechnical support to USAID’s central contraceptive procurement and management, andanalysis of USAID’s central commodity management information system (NEWVERN).This document does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of USAID or theWorld Health Organization. It may be reproduced if credit is given to John Snow,Inc./DELIVER.Recommended CitationJohn Snow, Inc./DELIVER in collaboration with the World Health Organization.Guidelines for the Storage of Essential Medicines and Other Health Commodities. 2003.Arlington, Va.: John Snow, Inc./DELIVER, for the U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment.AbstractMaintaining proper storage conditions for health commodities is vital to ensuringtheir quality. Product expiration dates are based on ideal storage conditions andprotecting product quality until their expiration date is important for servingcustomers and conserving resources.Guidelines for the Storage of Essential Medicines and Other Health Commodities is a practicalreference for those managing or involved in setting up a storeroom or warehouse. Theguide contains written directions and clear illustrations on receiving and arrangingcommodities; special storage conditions; tracking commodities; maintaining the qualityof the products; constructing and designing a medical store; waste management; andresources. It was written to meet the needs of district-level facilities; however, theguidelines and information it contains apply to any storage facility, of any size, inany type of environment.