Essential Medicine Availability, Stock-Out Duration, and Influencing Factors in Public and Private Drug Outlets of Gubre Town, Central Ethiopia

Abstract Background Essential medications are those that meet the population's top health care demands. Evidence of clinical efficacy and safety, comparative costs and cost-effectiveness, and disease prevalence and public health importance are all taken into consideration when choosing these medications. Objective This study aimed to assess essential medicine availability and stock-out duration, and to analyze influencing factors using inferential statistics in Gubre town drug outlets. Methods Using a self-administered checklist of twenty vital medications, a cross-sectional survey was carried out at Gubre Town's public and commercial pharmacies between March 31 and May 18, 2025. The study encompassed the following medical facilities: Gubre Community Pharmacy, Gubre Health Center, Tena Adam Private Pharmacy, Adababay Drug Store, Sawi Drug Store, Gubre Drug Store, and Wolkite University Specialized Teaching Hospital (WUSTH). Utilizing SPSS version 27, data input and analysis were completed. Frequency distribution was used for categorical data, and descriptive statistics were used for continuous data. The findings were then displayed using texts, tables, and graphs. Result There were 5 medicine dispensing units in the WUSTH, and 1 the same medicine dispensing units in others. There were 27, 3, 2 and 7 pharmacy staff members at the hospital, GCP, GDS and the health center, respectively. And one the same pharmacy staff members in others. WUSTH tends to have the highest drug availability (95%), followed by GHC (85%) while SDS and GCP have lowest drug availability (40%). The average stock-out duration at GCP was the longest (32.2 days), followed by SDS (31.4 days), While at TAP was the shortest (7.4 days). From 20 selected essential medicines, 100% (20) were managed at WUSTH, while 60% (12) were managed at TAP and GDS. Medicine availability was positively associated with pharmacy staff and proper management, while stock-out rates and durations had negative effects. Regression confirmed staff numbers significantly predicted availability. Conclusion WUSTH had the highest drug availability, while Sawi and Gubre Community Pharmacy had the lowest. Gubre Community Pharmacy also had the longest stock-out duration. Facilities should address prolonged stock-outs of essential medicines. Inferential statistics showed that medicine availability improves with more pharmacy staff and better management. Frequent and prolonged stock-outs reduce availability, emphasizing the need for stronger supply systems.