Supply Chain Management Performance of laboratory commodities in Selected Public health Facilities of Two Selected Oromia Zones, Ethiopia

Abstract

The purpose of a laboratory logistics system is to obtain and move commodities in a timely fashion to the places where they are needed at a reasonable cost with acceptable quality .Likewise, wellfunctioning supply chains will enhance the availability of the commodities required to provide necessary laboratory services. In Ethiopia pharmaceuticals including laboratory commodity supply chain management system reported challenges on availability, affordability, storage and stock management and irrational use. Moreover, increased demand for the laboratory services has prompted the need to have an uninterrupted supply of laboratory commodities. Objective: - To assess the Supply Chain Management of laboratory commodities in Selected Public Health Facilities of Illu Aba Bora and Buno Bedelle zones. Methods:- A facility based descriptive cross sectional survey design at public health facilities of Illu Aba Bora and Buno Bedelle zones was conducted using both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques which was adapted and customized to local situation from LIAT, LSAT and ATLAS. A stratified random sampling method was used to create different strata for both of the zones separately according to the type of facility. A total of 28 public facilities involving in supply chain of laboratory commodities (LCs) were selected from all stratums by simple random sampling method except for hospitals in which all were taken by default. Data obtained through structured questionnaires were entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 (SPSS). Results from the in-depth interview were analyzed thematically and used for data triangulation. Result: -A total of 28 public health facilities were involved in this survey. Of these 3 (10.7%) were hospitals and 25(89.3%) health centers (HCs). Ten (35.7%) of health facilities have developed their own essential list of laboratory commodity (ELLC).Only half of them limited to ELLC in conducting procurement. The mean number of test menus not offered at the day of visit was 4.8 (26.7%) and 3(10.7%) for HCs and Hospitals, respectively. For the sampled LCs assessed in the main pharmacy store, hospitals (53.4%) did better updating bin cards than HCs (16.9 %).The accuracy of bin cards was better for hospitals (37.3 %) than HCs (11.6%). The percentage of LCs stocked out on the day of visit was as high as 35.6 and 18.7 in HCs and Hospitals respectively. Overall better average availability at the day of visit was found in hospitals (81.3%) than HCs (50.6%). Laboratory commodities with a total value of 389,118 Birr were expired within the past one year. About 70.7% of the total value of wastage was attributed to program LCs Conclusion: - From this study it can be concluded that low availability and high stock out rate, number of test menus not offered to clients, poor accuracy in record keeping and high wastage rate of LCs, are an indicators of weak status of supply chain management of LCs. Recommendation: -Health facilities should prepare and utilize ELLC, DTC must be established and be functional in all health facilities and facilities should work to reduce the wastage level of LCs, health facilities must capture valid logistic data on LCs both at store and laboratory to improve the quantification of these commodities.