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| Getting medicines to the poor: solving the logistics challenge | Getting medicines to the poor: solving the logistics challenge |
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| Here's the million-dollar health supply chain question: how does Coca-Cola get to remote villages while essential medications can't? | |
| No one need make the case for improving access to basic drugs for 'bottom of the pyramid' communities: a healthy population is central to development. Yet, with the possible exception of antiretrovirals and antimalarials, community health centres are being built but their shelves remain empty. So what does a drinks manufacturer know about maintaining stock levels that the global health community is still trying to figure out? | No one need make the case for improving access to basic drugs for 'bottom of the pyramid' communities: a healthy population is central to development. Yet, with the possible exception of antiretrovirals and antimalarials, community health centres are being built but their shelves remain empty. So what does a drinks manufacturer know about maintaining stock levels that the global health community is still trying to figure out? |
| That's a question researchers at the Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) at the University of Arkansas tried to answer in their report on US healthcare industry's supply chains. Asking what lessons the healthcare sector could learn from retail, the study came up with 10 best practice recommendations, all worth considering here, despite the contextual differences. CIHL concluded that collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment, scanning technology, and education and training among other practices enabled retailers to access their markets efficiently. | That's a question researchers at the Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) at the University of Arkansas tried to answer in their report on US healthcare industry's supply chains. Asking what lessons the healthcare sector could learn from retail, the study came up with 10 best practice recommendations, all worth considering here, despite the contextual differences. CIHL concluded that collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment, scanning technology, and education and training among other practices enabled retailers to access their markets efficiently. |
| But the issues aren't limited to access. According to the World Health Organisation's 'Procurement process resource guide' (pdf) it is equally important to ensure that medicines and other health products of appropriate quality are delivered safely, reliably and cost-effectively. How can this be done in countries where infrastructure is poor and human resources, warehouses and money are all in short supply? | But the issues aren't limited to access. According to the World Health Organisation's 'Procurement process resource guide' (pdf) it is equally important to ensure that medicines and other health products of appropriate quality are delivered safely, reliably and cost-effectively. How can this be done in countries where infrastructure is poor and human resources, warehouses and money are all in short supply? |
| Finally, is there a role for technology? If mobile phones are giving farmers access to markets, how can they be used to increase access to healthcare? Unite for Sight lists "decentralising delivery" as one of the "techniques for effective supply chains". The NGO writes: "Of the 1 billion people living in extreme poverty, 75% do not live in cities. The decentralisation of healthcare away from traditional healthcare hubs can improve delivery and improve access by eliminating barriers of time and transportation often required to seek care ... One particular example has been the development of telemedicine." | Finally, is there a role for technology? If mobile phones are giving farmers access to markets, how can they be used to increase access to healthcare? Unite for Sight lists "decentralising delivery" as one of the "techniques for effective supply chains". The NGO writes: "Of the 1 billion people living in extreme poverty, 75% do not live in cities. The decentralisation of healthcare away from traditional healthcare hubs can improve delivery and improve access by eliminating barriers of time and transportation often required to seek care ... One particular example has been the development of telemedicine." |
| It is clear the challenges are great but so too is the potential to innovate, whether through technology adoption or cross-sector collaboration. So on Thursday 18 July, we invite you to join our online debate on facing the health supply chain challenge. The debate will begin, in the comment threads below, at 1pm BST. | It is clear the challenges are great but so too is the potential to innovate, whether through technology adoption or cross-sector collaboration. So on Thursday 18 July, we invite you to join our online debate on facing the health supply chain challenge. The debate will begin, in the comment threads below, at 1pm BST. |
| The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). To join the panel or give your views ahead of the chat, email globaldevpros@guardian.co.uk. Follow our tweets on Thursday using the hashtag #globaldevlive | The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). To join the panel or give your views ahead of the chat, email globaldevpros@guardian.co.uk. Follow our tweets on Thursday using the hashtag #globaldevlive |
| Panel | |
| David Jamieson, deputy project director, health supply chains, Crown Agents, Washington DC, United States, @crownagents David is currently at a Pepfar-funded supply chain management project where he is deputy director for program planning and global partnerships. David has overall responsibility for its relationships with other donors, other partners and agencies such as WHO, UNAids and Unitaid. | |
| Tamsin Chislett, Partnerships Manager, Living Goods, Kampala, Uganda @TamsinChislett Tamsin works with organisations seeking to adapt and replicate Living Goods' business model. Living Goods equips 'Avon-like' micro-entrepreneurs to go door-to-door selling vital medicines and other useful products in poor communities in Uganda and Kenya. | |
| Andreas Seiter, senior health specialist, World Bank, Washington DC, United States Andreas Seiter is a senior health specialist and expert for pharmaceutical policy and management at the World Bank's health, nutrition and population anchor. He is responsible for analytical and advisory work in all areas of pharmaceutical policy. | |
| Simon Berry, founder and chief executive, ColaLife, Lusaka, Zambia @colalife Simon has experience in cross-sector stakeholder relations, rural development, open innovation and new media. ColaLife uses the same principles and networks that Coca-Cola and other commodity producers use, to open up private sector supply chains for simple medicines. | |
| Rose Reis, communications officer, Center for Health Market Innovations, Washington, DC, United States @CHMInnovations The Center for Health Market Innovations promotes programs, policies and practices that make quality health care delivered by private organisations affordable and accessible to the world's poor. | |
| Mandy Sugrue, community manager, mHealth Alliance, Washington DC, @mHealthAlliance The mHealth Alliance champions the use of mobile technologies to improve health throughout the world. The alliance serves as a convener for the mobile health community to overcome common challenges by sharing tools, knowledge, experience, and lessons learned. | |
| George Jagoe, head of access, Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland, @MedsforMalaria George heads the access team at Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV). MMV works on discovering, developing, and delivering new quality medicines to treat or prevent malaria. |