Influence of pharmaceutical logistics management information systems as an enabler of Universal Health Coverage implementation in Nyamira County
Date
2019
Authors
Wando, Stephen Odhiambo
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
It has been argued that least half of the world’s population cannot access essential health services. This is why in 2012, the UN General Assembly declared that countries should start implementing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as a way of addressing this issue. Kenya is set to roll out UHC for the entire country by 2022, beginning with a pilot covering four counties: Kisumu, Machakos, Isiolo, and Nyeri. One of the key determinants of the success of the UHC programme in Kenya is likely to be timely availability of pharmaceutical products at the facilities. However, there are currently no plans to assess the challenges faced by counties regarding the logistics of supplying pharmaceutical products from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to the facilities in the counties. This prompted the researcher to conduct a study with general objective being to establish the influence of pharmaceutical logistics management information systems as an enabler of universal health coverage implementation and the specific objectives being to establish the influence of Selection support systems as an enabler of universal health coverage implementation, to establish the influence of Procurement support systems as an enabler of universal health coverage implementation, to establish the influence of Distribution Support systems as an enabler of universal health coverage implementation and to establish the influence of Utility support systems as an enabler of universal health coverage implementation. The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative approach in analyzing the data. The population of the study was drawn from Nyamira County with 120 health facilities and the sample size was 74 respondents. The researcher adopted the use of the questionnaire in gathering information, the findings clearly indicate that there was no proper selection supports system that ensures the high quality product selection, appropriate quantity of the product to be selected and the need satisfaction of the product also the County drug policy document are not being used irrespective of being a very important document, procurement support system was discussed to check whether it accommodates the element of planning in terms of budget and supply planning though the one in place is not that effective in the County, forecast and development a system using dispensed user data in the procurement support system in universal health coverage is not effective. Medical practitioners are even not aware of distribution data in the issue of the procurement support system and are not even aware of forecast being done using distribution data, on distribution support system, there is no written provisions for the redistribution of overstocked supplies and a program accommodating policy of storing & issuing stock according to first to expire that should be address by the system and Utility support system that is in place to manage the use of inventory and ensure waste reduction is not efficient, the study recommends that for logistic management information system to be implemented in the UHC facilities the system must have selection, distribution procurement and utility system which is effective and the study further suggests that more studies be conducted on
influence of pharmaceutical logistics management information systems on the performance of public hospital in Kenya. This will help give a holistic idea on the causes of logistic management process delays that could be due to the use of substandard systems used in record keeping, material handling and Distribution or could be due to the use of poorly trained medical professionals
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management at Strathmore Business School
Keywords
Pharmaceutical logistics management, Information systems, Universal health coverage