Determinants of pharmaceuticals distribution management in case of Ethiopian pharmaceuticals supply agency, jimma branch

Abstract

The main objective of this study has been to explain the determinants of pharmaceuticals distribution management in EPSA Jimma branch with the aim of identifying the gaps, potentials and constraints for development of effective and efficient pharmaceutical distribution systems. The study would contribute valuable information to improve warehousing and storage, fleet management and coordination system in the Pharmaceuticals distribution system. In order to describe and examine the current distribution practices of the case company, the researcher was follow both an explanatory and a descriptive research designs. In order to generate relevant data for this study, both primary and secondary data was used. The target population numbers for this research were 86. Since the population size for this research are less than 100, all target populations was included in the study using census method. Therefore, the study was conducted on 86 employees those were a target population from the study area through total enumeration with a census method. In this study closed ended questionnaires, semi-structured interview and observation was employed to gather information from respondents. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis techniques. With regards to the descriptive analysis the study analyzed using mean and standard deviation. On the other hand, inferential statistics techniques, specifically correlation and linear regression analyses were applied to tests whether the combined effect, of all the variables in the model, is different from zero. The result of the study showed that pharmaceuticals storage practice, pharmaceuticals transportation practice, pharmaceuticals inventory control practice and order fulfillment had a significant positive effects on effective pharmaceuticals distribution of EPSA Jimma branch. Alternative approaches, including outsourcing, shall be used to ensure cost effectiveness in the transportation of pharmaceuticals to service delivery points while maintaining quality of the products.