Assessment of Supply Chain Practice and Associated Factors from Healthcare Professionals Perspective in Public Health Facilities, West Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Supply chain management is the backbone of healthcare system because healthcare service is highly dependent on the availability of drugs and other healthcare supplies at the appropriate time and in the right quantity for treating patients. Effective pharmaceutical supply chain practices helps to minimize stock out, loss due to expiry and pilferage and for ensuring the desired pharmaceutical products are available at all time in adequate amount. In addition, it also has huge role in ensuring the quality of services provided. Objective: This study intended to assess the status of some of the supply chain practices and associated factors from healthcare professional perspective in public health facilities found in west Gojjam zone. Method and Materials: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed for the quantitative part of the study and phenomenology study design was used for qualitative study. Both quantitative and qualitative data regarding to supply chain practice were collected starting from April 28/ 2018 – June 20/2018. Epidata and SPSS version 20 was utilized for data entry and analysis respectively. Simple and multiple linear regressions were done for determining the association and making prediction between dependent and independent variables. A variable with p-value less than 0.05 were considered as significantly associated. Result: A total of 425 questionnaires were distributed to respondents and413 questionnaires were filled and returned successfully. Supplier relationship management, procurement, information sharing and technology, after-procurement service, and monitoring and evaluation were underperformed supply chain (SC) practice with mean value of 2.64, 2.85, 2.39, 3.34, 2.24, and 1.86 respectively. On the other hand, the storage practice and inventory management was relatively better-performed SC practice with mean value of 3.34 and 3.22 respectively. IPLS skill of the staff and management support were the factors significantly associated with the performance of most of SC practice assessed by this study. This study also reported that shortage of budget allocated, poor management support, and lack of commitment from staff were among the major challenges for most of SC practices in public health facilities found in west Gojjam zone. Conclusion: Generally, most of the supply chain practices assessed by this study were poorly executed in public health facilities found in west Gojjam zone. The IPLS skill of the staff and management support has been the factors that were significantly associated with most of SC practice. Limited allocated budget, poor management support, and lack of commitment from II staff were among the major challenges for the execution of most of supply chain practices in public health facilities, which were reported by key informants of in-depth face to face interview done by this study. Recommendation: This study also constructed important recommendations for public health facilities, west Gojjam zonal department, Bahirdar hub Pharmaceutical Fund and Supply agency, and researchers based on its major findings