Pharmaceutical Supply Management Systems Strengthening

Efficient and effective supply management systems are important to ensure that pharmaceutical supplies are made available at the point of use at the right time, at affordable cost, in the right quantity and with assured quality. Supply management systems include storage facilities at central, regional, district and health facility level; transport systems; inventory control systems; and logistics management information systems.

HERA has wide-ranging experience in planning and executing Pharmaceutical Supply Management surveys, and in evaluating and strengthening Pharmaceutical Supply Management systems. Recent studies were completed in Kenya, Lesotho, Papua New Guinea and Sierra Leone. In addition, HERA consultants participate regularly in Global Fund audits covering the Procurement and Supply Management part. Countries where HERA participated in Procurement and Supply Management audits include Burundi, Ivory Coast, Laos, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal, Sri Lanka.

Two of the HERA partners have many years of experience in managing medical stores (Asrames in DR Congo and BGVS in Suriname) and have worked on the development and implementation of computerized medicines inventory control and procurement systems (DR Congo, Malawi and Suriname).

HERA staff has supported the design and/or development of (autonomous) Central Medical Stores in Burundi, Madagascar and Rwanda, and evaluated the outsourced management of the Central Medical Stores in Zambia.

In Ethiopia, HERA participated in the development of the national Pharmaceutical Logistics Master Plan. HERA consultants also provided follow up support for monitoring and procurement systems development.

At district level HERA supported pharmaceutical supply management systems in Lesotho through development and implementation support for Standard Operating Procedures and supervision systems; in Burundi HERA assisted the MOH in the establishment of a supervision and information system for pharmaceutical supply management at districts.

For examples, click here.