supply chain maternal health supplies

1Management Sciences for Health

Stronger health systems. Greater health impact.

Keeping shelves full for women in Bangladesh: it takes a system!! 17th RHSC Meeting, Seattle, 2016

Mohammad Golam KibriaSenior Technical Advisor-HIS, SIAPS

BangladeshManagement Sciences for Health (MSH)


The Supply Chain: Identifying the Problem• Lack of procurement coordination between DGFP and DGHS

(Vertical MH Programs) for commonly procured items• Weak governance of pharmaceutical management

processes • Lack of human resources and high turn-over of trained staff• Lack of information and data for decision making • Poor warehousing practices • Lack of evidence-based forecasting and inefficient

distribution systems • Unavailability of standard and user-friendly pharmaceuticals

management guidelines and uniform inventory management tools; especially in DGHS supply chain


Addressing the challenge: the Process

With the leadership from DGFP and DGHS, SIAPS in collaboration with UN agencies, donors and Implementing partners and conducted existing system review, analyzed options and developed strategies which as follows:1. Prepared guidelines on sub-national procurement and capacity building2. Functional Forecasting Working Group (DGFP) and Supply Chain Coordination Forum (DGHS)3. Introduction of Uniform Inventory Management Tools and Basic Logistics Management Training4. Introduction of an eLMIS in DHIS2 Platform (After successful pilot Implementation of Paper-based Logistics Management Information Reporting and Tracking System)5. Formation of a multi-stakeholders Technical Working Group (TWG) to play the leadership role6. Effective Implementation of Warehouse Improvement Plan


• Improving governance- coordinated planning among all stakeholders, including measures of accountability

• Reviewing national policies — such as the essential medicines lists and standard treatment guidelines

• Recognition of the importance of the regulatory role governments play in ensuring the quality of products in circulation in the public and private sectors has also grown

• Improve forecast development and use • Strengthen country-level data collection systems• Reduce lead times and coordinate procurements between

DGFP and DGHS • Increase market transparency on price ranges• Explore options for cold chain requirements for oxytocin

Developing the Strategy


Strategy for Implementing the Solution

• Support and encourage policymakers and potential champions

• Strengthen logistics management for maternal health supplies and enhance the supply chain

• Monitor the national budget for maternal health and ensure funding for public sector facilities during procurement planning stage

• Improved coordination between DGFP and DGHS


BD Success: Introduction of DGHS eLMIS

• Conduct an option analysis, design, testing of a web-based e-Tool - the DGHS electronic LMIS in DHiS2 Platform and MOHFW Supply Chain Management Portal- for improving Priority MNCH commodity surveillance and promote transparency and efficiency

• Capacity building at all levels of five implementing districts

• Improve data quality for electronic tracking system from community clinic to the central level

• Technical assistance to facilitate enabling environment (quick troubleshooting, on-the-job training etc.)


DGHS eLMIS


Documenting results

Bangladesh Health Facility Survey-2011 and 2014

% of Stock out of MHS in Bangaldesh


Reporting Rate by District; from Mar 2016 through Aug 2016

Source: DGHS eLMIS, http://mshbd.org/index


Identifying next steps

- Implementation of Sub-national Procurement guidelines and facilitate the procurement processes

- Facilitate evidence-based forecasting for both national and sub-national levels

- Roll-out of DGHS eLMIS in selected districts to track stock availability up to community clinic levels

- Capacity building on Data Use and Action- Roll-out of Warehouse Improvement plan- Continue to build capacity of relevant staff on basic

logistics management


Stronger health systems. Greater health impact.

Saving lives and improving the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.

supply chain maternal health supplies

Healthcare