Abstract:
Health logistics system is responsible to ensure, obtain and use quality health supplies. In
Ethiopia, the government is the primary health care provider and supplier of pharmaceuticals for the
public sector. Strengthening supply chain management to ensure access to quality pharmacy services that
will lead to improved health outcomes. The UN Secretary-General’s Global Strategy for Women’s and
Children’s Health highlighted the suffering of women and children around the world caused by lack of
access to Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health commodities.
Objective: To assess Maternal and Child Health Commodities supply chain management practice in
selected public Health Facilities under Jimma Branch of Pharmaceutical Fund and Supply Agency,
Ethiopia.
Method: A facility based descriptive cross-sectional study complemented by qualitative approach was
conducted in Fifty two public health facilities (Ten hospitals and Forty two health centers) that provide
Maternal and Child Health service in south west of Ethiopia. The sample of health facilities was
calculated by using the Logistic Indicators Assessment Tool. The data was collected using semistructured questionnaires and observation check lists from April 10 to May 10, 2017.
Result: Quantification of MCH products was conducted both at central and branch PFSA. The Overall,
availability of MCH commodities were 72.45% (hospital 65.2% and HCs 74.19).On average
38.8% of hospital and 36.47% of HC had stock out MCH commodities in the past 6 months prior to data
collection. This is an indicator of weak supply chain. There was inconsistency in the usage of the LMIS
formats for products. The overall supply chain management of Maternal and child health commodities
both at Public Health Facilities and PFSA have challenges summarized under supply, demand, internal
and external factors.
Conclusion, Supply chain management of MCH Commodity in the study area was found to be
weak.Interrupted supplies and stock outs are challenges in the SCM of MCH Commodities.In addition to
this, Demand uncertainty and lack of data quality affect forecasting & planning activities of the product.
Availability of MCH commodities at Health facility needs improvement. Because the supply chain of
MCH product was interrupted due to Single sourcing strategy for majority of core products. Appropriate
management of medicines at the different stages of supply chain is important because the ultimate goal of
a supply chain system is to ensure product availability at all times and minimize wastage rate of the
product.
