Leveraging electronic logistics management information systems to enhance and optimize supply chain response during public health emergencies: lessons from COVID-19 response in Uganda (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Science and Research, 2020
Global Health Supply Chain Systems have been unprecedentedly strained to the limits following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak, raising a concern of the possible magnitude of impact likely to be posed on health supply chain systems of low-income countries like Uganda. Uganda experienced its first COVID-19 outbreak on 21 st March 2020, 10 days shortly after World Health Organization's (WHO) pandemic declaration. Ever since then, the number of cases in Uganda has gone on to rise every day. This paper aims to examine in detail the experiences and effectiveness of Uganda's health supply chain system in preparedness and response to COVID-19 outbreak. All components of Uganda's public health emergency (PHE) supply chain system and activities undertaken were examined. Ministry of Health (MoH) reports, Logistic Subcommittee (LSC) reports and published journals on COVID-19 were used to inform this paper. Upon declaration of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO on 30 th January 2020, MoH activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Center, National Task Force and District Task Forces to coordinate the COVID-19 preparedness and response. On 31 st January 2020 the LSC activated the PHE supply chain system components and activities. The National Medical Countermeasures plan was activated. Quantification, forecasting and pipeline monitoring for possible logistics needs of COVID-19 was conducted for 136 districts, 8 regional prepositioning centers, 17Regional referral hospitals, over 80 public hospitals, 89 quarantine centers, and 75points of entry. The electronic Emergency Logistics Management Information system (eELMIS) was activated to coordinate all emergency supply chain information and regular reporting of stock status at all levels. Eight (8) regional prepositioning centers for stockpiling COVID-19 supplies were activated. In conclusion, the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak provided a stun on-field test for Uganda's young PHE supply chain system giving it an opportunity to close all the gaps not earlier well-known, and consequently making it even stronger for future epidemics. This paper therefore shares Uganda's experiences, methods and performance and future lessons from which other countries' health supply chain systems can learn from.
IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 2017
Uninterrupted supply of health commodities is a prerequisite for a well-functioning healthcare system. Establishing and maintaining effective supply chains is at the same time challenging in developing countries. A key part of this chain and the focus of this paper are the information systems supporting the communication and distribution of commodities between national warehouses and health facilities. Such systems supporting storage, transportation, wastage reduction, forecasting, planning and avoiding commodity stock-outs are invariably called Logistics Management Information Systems (LMIS). However, the blurred boundaries between the various parts of the supply chain and the numerous information systems involved is reflected in the lack of a clear definition of LMIS. The main aim of this paper is to provide a better understanding of what an LMIS is, and how it interacts with other information systems. By presenting two case studies, from Tanzania and Uganda, we show that the landscape of LMIS consists of a patchwork of information systems, which often have tighter coupling with systems of other domains (such as patient management) than with the supply chain. This leads us to ask the following research question; what are appropriate information systems architectures for LMIS? Our response, main argument and contribution is that the nature of these supply chains favours the emergence of several independent information systems. This is particularly due to the variation in resources and capacities on the different levels of the health system and thus the supply chain. Interoperability between the different levels and other related information systems should then be considered, necessitating a scrutinous evaluation of what data needs to be shared with whom.
POST-PANDEMIC LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT (Atena Editora)
POST-PANDEMIC LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT (Atena Editora), 2022
Humanity, from time to time, has been challenged by numerous variables such as, for example: political, economic and natural. The emergence of the Covid19 pandemic in December 2019 has worsened economic and social conditions in the world. Given the current reality, it is relevant to understand the crisis in supply chains to improve local, regional and global logistics management. In this context, the present study seeks to identify and analyze the main impacts on the logistics supply chain, due to the lack of preparation in the current model practiced in this type of management. In order to reach the objective, qualitative methodological procedures of descriptive, experimental, explanatory and bibliographic levels were used. From the data obtained and its analysis, it was observed how sensitive supply chain management is due to several factors published in this article and how organizations must behave to harmonize these variables.
Background: Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) was introduced in Sierra Leone to improve drug supply management and provide accurate information that can be used for planning and resources allocation. The system managed drugs supplies, but this system is being influenced by factors to enhance effective drugs supply management. Methodology: The study examined factors considered to influence LMIS effectiveness on drugs supplies management, using the conceptual framework model. Purposive and sequential exploratory means of data collection through self-administered questionnaires was employed. Results: The study identified eleven factors and only four (Forecasting, Logistics, Information Quality and Production) have significant influence on LMIS effectiveness on drugs supply management. Conclusion: The study showed four factors having positive and statistically significant effect on LMIS effectiveness on drugs supply management. Therefore, strengthening these factors would s...
Background: Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) was introduced in Sierra Leone to improve drug supply management and provide accurate information that can be used for planning and resources allocation. The system managed drugs supplies, but this system is being influenced by factors to enhance effective drugs supply management. Methodology: The study examined factors considered to influence LMIS effectiveness on drugs supplies management, using the conceptual framework model. Purposive and sequential exploratory means of data collection through self-administered questionnaires was employed. Results: The study identified eleven factors and only four (Forecasting, Logistics, Information Quality and Production) have significant influence on LMIS effectiveness on drugs supply management. Conclusion:The study showed four factors having positive and statistically significant effect on LMIS effectiveness on drugs supply management. Therefore, strengthening these factors would si...
Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2021
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) forced the governing bodies across the world to ban all kinds of travel involving the movement of people. However, the policymakers have been working hard to mobilize the movement of essential goods and services considering its importance in containing the pandemic. It signifies how important the establishment and maintenance of logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) operations are, both during the containment and the successive periods. Motivated with the paramount importance of LSCM operations during the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) across the globe, this paper critically reviews the existing literature closely related to it. The main aim is to identify and enhance the understanding of the logistical characteristics that play a vital role during pandemics. The selection of the literature was done using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) methodology. The classification of the selected literature was done using a tripartite framework. Results show that researchers have focused mostly on "Post-event" (48.24%) management of logistical operations followed by the "Pre-event" (31.76%) and least in the "Integrated" (20%.) approaches. Furthermore, the analysis of the results provided useful insights that are discussed in detail. Also, twelve key areas have been identified that need due attention to improve the overall efficiency of the LSCM operations. We believe that the findings from this paper would be useful to the decision-makers and other stakeholders, as far as, maintaining efficient LSCM operations during as well after the pandemics are concerned.
The role of information and digital tools in supply chain management during the Covid crisis
Acta logistica
Supply chains have become the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, as evidenced by problems in the supply of semiconductors, food, and other products, which raises the problem of supply chain manageability. There has been a so-called ‘shortening’ of the supply chain. The paper addressed the problem of using digital tools in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study aims to examine the main digital tools used by local businesses and evaluate the prospects for logistics management using new technology. The hypothesis is that SMEs that do not use digital tools in supply chain management are also characterized by the poor quality of management. A survey was conducted to identify the actual supply chain management practices during the COVID-19-induced crisis in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Republic of Kazakhstan and discover common trends and differences in these countries. A set of recommendations for implementing best global practices ...
Journal of Medical Systems, 2010
Pandemic influenza is considered catastrophic to global health, with severe economic and social effects. Consequently, a strategy for the rapid deployment of essential medical supplies used for the prevention of influenza transmission and to alleviate public panic caused by the expected shortage of such supplies needs to be developed. Therefore, we employ integrated information concepts to develop a simulated influenza medical material supply system to facilitate a rapid response to such a crisis. Various scenarios are analyzed to estimate the appropriate inventory policy needed under different pandemic influenza outbreaks, and to establish a mechanism to evaluate the necessary stockpiles of medications and other requirements in the different phases of the pandemic. This study constructed a web-based decision support system framework prototype that displayed transparent data related to medical stockpiles in each district and integrated expert opinion about the best distribution of these supplies in the influenza pandemic scenarios. A data collection system was also designed to gather information through a daily VPN transmitted into one central repository for reporting and distribution purposes. This study provides timely and transparent medical supplies distribution information that can help decision makers to make the appropriate decisions under different pandemic influenza outbreaks, and also attempts to establish a mechanism of evaluating the stockpiles and requirements in the different phases of the pandemic.
Supply Chain and Logistics Management in Public Health Surveillance and Protection during COVID-19
Scientific Bulletin
COVID-19 shed light on the vulnerability of United States public health logistics and supply change management infrastructure concerning pandemic testing, tracking, and response. Logistics management challenges related to virus testing and tracking have made the critical need for more innovative and more comprehensive healthcare surveillance approaches. Public health surveillance is a critical and often underutilized aspect of public health logistics and supply chain infrastructure planning. Wastewater treatment infrastructures offer an innovative approach to gaining public health data to provide appropriate public health responses. Understanding the logistics and supply chain aspects of virus tracking, testing, and response data-driven response decision making are the key to mitigating the impact of future outbreaks. This project explores the utility of this approach through qualitative focus group interviewing to gain information from public health subject matter experts in the fi...