Top 5 JSI Health Supply Chain Reads from 2020
December 9th, 2020 | viewpoint
Edward Wilson, director of JSI’s Center for Health Logistics, started 2020 by taking stock, exploring new supply chains for a new decade, and how our focus on localization, visibility, technology, and patient-centricity is transforming health supply chains. This work brought us into 2020 excited to continue these efforts increasing access to quality and affordable health products.
While it’s been a challenging year for all, we are inspired by our colleagues’ work to keep supply chains moving despite the pandemic and to continue the path towards more patient-centric supply chains. Here are our five most popular reads and resources from 2020 that highlight both resilience and opportunities for innovation:
1. Health Care Supply Chains after the Pandemic
In March, we began to see the effects of COVID-19 on global health care supply chains. In many countries where we work, we are proud to see our partners and programs jump into action to support the urgent supply chain needs to mitigate the pandemic. We also began exploring the long-term consequences. In this blog, we highlight key discussions with some of our collaborators about what of these changes might be and mean for low- and middle-income countries.
…we are in for a period of major disruption and change, but it’s worth remembering that disruption does not necessarily mean negative outcomes. It is incumbent on all of us working in health supply chains to turn this disruptive event into positive change.”
2. The Supply Chain Manager’s Handbook
Behind every strong supply chain is a strong manager. The Supply Chain Manager’s Handbook is the starting point for anyone interested in learning about the key principles and concepts of supply chain management for health commodities. Our handbook was updated with an addendum, Supply Chain Management for Healthcare in Humanitarian Response Settings, and is based on more than 30 years of experience improving public health supply chains in more than 60 countries.
In partnership with Ethiopia’s Food and Drug Administration (EFDA) and the Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency, we are implementing an open-source electronic regulatory information system to enable end-to-end pharmaceutical supply chain visibility. This technology gives EFDA the ability to trace medications along the supply chain and ensure that they are registered, safe, and high-quality. This brief details this partnership and some of our learnings.
JSI’s affiliate, the Partnership for Supply Chain Management undertook a study to understand the capabilities of wholesalers and distributors to partner with governments, pharmaceutical companies, and product developers to increase health care product availability in selected country markets. This study found private wholesalers/distributors in each of the five study focus countries that would make strong partners for the public and donor sectors.
5. AIDSfree Zambia End of Project Summary
The AIDSFree project enabled Zambia’s transition from a paper-based system of data management to an electronic format to foster faster and more accurate reporting of supply chain data and reduce stockouts of health commodities. The electronic logistics management information system Central Edition supports 2,600 health facilities nationwide and has not only contributed to waste reduction and overstocked medicine, but it has also reduced missed treatment opportunities and supported better adherence to HIV treatment services.
To learn more about how we are transforming and scaling health supply chains, read about our supply chain expertise and sign up to receive our newsletter, Strong Supply Chains Save Lives.
