Prospects and challenges of pharmaceuticals supply chain management practices at Ethiopian pharmaceuticals supply agency, jimma branch

Abstract

SCM practices are defined as the set of activities undertaken by an organization to promote effective management of its supply chain. The main objective of the study is to assess the prospect and challenges of pharmaceuticals supply chain management practices at EPSA, Jimma branch. This research was aimed to assessing the prospects and challenges of Pharmaceuticals SCM practices. A descriptive and Cross-sectional survey design was employed in this study. Descriptive survey as described by the study was used both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. A representative sample for questionnaire was selected from the employees of the agency based on probability sampling of. Stratified sampling was employed based on the strata of the departments and simple random sampling using random table will be done accordingly. The data was obtained through questionnaire was first edited for their completeness, categorized, registered. Based on this the data was analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis techniques. With regards to the descriptive analysis the study was analyzed using mean and standard deviation.. The study was used SPSS version 20 software package in the entire analysis part. The result of the study showed that there was a good practice of customer relationship management, strategic supplier partnership and information sharing at EPSA Jimma branch. The prospects of supply chain management practices of the agency, the agency has good customer relationship management practices which ensured customer oriented service provision. Thus, the agency has concerned its customers to be closely treated. In a similar vein the agency supplier strategic partnership and information sharing practices have been found in a good status.