Abstract:
Background: Pharmaceutical supply chain management practice refers to the strategic and operational activities undertaken by pharmaceutical companies and stakeholders involved in the supply chain to ensure the efficient and effective flow of pharmaceutical products from manufacturers to end-users while maintaining quality, compliance, and patient safety. However, there are human resource challenges, financial challenges, information and infrastructure challenges associated with managing pharmaceutical supply chains, particularly in public health facilities in developing countries.
Objective: this study aimed to assess pharmaceutical supply chain management practices and challenges among public health facilities in the central Gondar zone, Ethiopia.
Methods: a descriptive facility-based cross-sectional mixed method was used. The purposive sampling technique utilized to choose respondents, and the sample for this study was assessed using the Logistics Indicators Assessment Tool (LIAT), developed by DELIVER. 40 health facilities were selected. A primary data collection questionnaire and an in-depth interview were conducted to collect data. The collected data was coded, entered into Epi Data Manager Version 4.6.0, and exported to SPSS Version 27.0 for analysis. Due to the non-parametric nature of the data, Kendall’s W test, were used to assess the degree of agreement among raters. The level of significance of the study was be kept at a P-value of 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval.
Results: The analysis of PSCM practices showed that Pharmaceutical Selection (mean 4.04) and Storage (mean 3.79) were the better-performed practices, while Procurement (mean 2.71) and Transportation (mean 2.82) faced the most challenges. Among the challenge variables, Financial Challenges (mean 2.55) were the most significant bottleneck, representing the under-managed challenge, followed by moderate Human Resource Challenges (mean 2.96) and Information Technology and Infrastructure Challenges (mean 3.46).
Conclusion: the study indicated the varying degrees of value and challenges within pharmaceutical supply chain management practices in public health facilities of central Gondar zone. While pharmaceutical selection and storage practices show strong implementation, procurement and transportation reveal significant weaknesses that need to be addressed. Financial challenges emerge as the most critical bottleneck, necessitating targeted interventions to ensure better allocation and utilization of resources. Additionally, addressing human resource issues and improving information technology and infrastructure are essential to enhance overall supply chain efficiency and reliability.
