The Determinants and Challenges in Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Service Performance at Public Health Facilities in Central Gondar Zone, Amara Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Pharmaceutical supply chain service revolves around product selection, quantification, procurement inventory management distribution and use in public health facilities. This study is aimed at exploring the determinants and challenges of pharmaceutical supply chain service performance in Central Gondar zone, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. To collect the required data, both qualitative and quantitative instruments were used. Both descriptive and econometric analyses have been employed. Over all, the
descriptive results showed that aggregate pharmaceutical service performance in Central Gondar zone is 60% which is significantly lower than the Logistic system Assessment Tool score cut-off point for good performance (75%). Component-wise, product selection, inventory management, forecasting as well as warehousing and storage practices are relatively better with average scores surpassing overall aggregate performance. The worst scores were observed in product use, distribution, and procurement practices.
The logistic regression results suggested that the information variable is the only determinant with statistically significant effect on pharmaceutical supply chain service performance. The most common pharmaceutical supply chain challenges include shortage of skilled man power, lack of competency among existing staff, budget constraints, supplier reliability problems, and poor infrastructure, and inflation, and transportation costs. Improving information use and systems would raise pharmaceutical service performance. In addition, it is vital to resolve infrastructure bottlenecks and human capital constraints to strengthen the drug supply service performance in the study area.