Table 1 Evaluation of available pharmacy products and services

We summarized the available equipment and services at each pharmacy according to the following criteria. Within each category the maximum score was one.

Essential medication

Within each category we totaled the number of the medications available (1 point if available, 0.5 points if available in a different dose or formulation) and divided by the number of drugs in the category.

Antibiotics (4) Ciprofloxacin capsules (500 mg), co-trimoxazole suspension (8 + 40 mg/ml), amoxicillin capsules or tablets (500 mg), ceftriaxone injection (1 g/vial).

Analgesics (2) Diclofenac capsules (150 mg), paracetamol suspension (125 mg/ml)

Non-antibiotic medications for communicable diseases (6) Fluconazole capsules or tablets (150 mg), albendazole (400 mg) or mebendazole (100 mg or 500 mg) chewable tabs, oral rehydration salts (ORS) sachets, artemisinin combination therapy, isoniazid tablets (100 to 300 mg), fansidar (SP, sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine) tablets (500 mg + 25 mg)

Medications for chronic illnesses (6) Salbutamol inhaler (0.1 mg/dose), glibencamide capsules or tablets (50 mg), atenolol capsules or tablets (50 mg), captopril (25 mg) or enalapril (2.5 mg) capsules or tablets, simvastatin capsules or tablets (20 mg), Efavirenz + lamivudine + tenofovir tablet (TDF + 3TC + EFV) (or relevant national standard for HIV)

Medications for sexual health, family planning, and pregnancy (4) Oxytocin injection (10 IU in 1 ml ampule), combined oral contraceptive pills, medroxyprogesterone (25 mg) injectable contraceptive, male condoms.

Other medications (3) Amitriptyline capsules or tablets (25 mg), omeprazole capsules or tablets (20 mg), vitamin A capsules (200,000 IU).

Medical equipment

Within each category we totaled the number of the items available and divided by the number of items in the category.

Drug preparation and storage (4) Autoclave for sterilization, infusion kits for intravenous solution, refrigerator, latex gloves.

Basic diagnostic equipment (7) Microscope, slides, sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, adult weighing scale, weighing equipment for under fives, thermometer.

Advanced equipment (3) X-ray machine, oxygen system/cylinders, cytoflowmeter.

Pharmacy staff

For each category the pharmacy scored 1 for one or more full time staff member and 0.5 for one or more part time staff member.

Qualified pharmacist (with or without degree certificate)

Pharmacy technician (staff with lower-level qualifications)

Opening hours

The proportion of the week the pharmacy is open (out of 14, with each day divided into AM/PM).

Overall summary (Fig. 2)

An overall summary score summing all items in the medication, equipment, and staff categories was also calculated.