How to Protect Supply Chains

(Systems Strengthening Approaches)

Key Messages

October 25, 2007Facilitator: Anabella Sánchez

Lessons Learned

• Health reforms have impacted the performance of supply chains

• To manage changes during health reform– Pilot test, scale up gradually. – If you integrate, then automate data.

• Identify areas for increased efficiencies– Procure at central level

Lessons LearnedProcurement mechanisms:

• In Chile the government institutionalized contraceptive

procurement through CENABAST

• Deliberate steps (separate functions)

• Transparency and governance strengthened

• Reduced corruption

• Web-based public procurement of goods

• In El Salvador, despite restrictive contracting laws, found a

creative way to overcome barriers and benefit from economies of

scale, saving scarce government resources

• Political will

And… How do these experiences relate to other regions?• Certain logistics functions must remained centralized

(even in decentralized systems): forecasting and procurement, financial planning, budget allocation, quality control, and information system design

• Focus on human capacity, and create and transfer new responsibilities; invest in training and supervision.

• Procurement capacity is built over time.

• Central Medical Stores of Ministries of Health in other regions need to strengthen their procurement capacity with a strategic vision of the supply chain.

• Allow transition between building procurement capacity and using procurement agents– Build bridges between managing donations and

procuring contraceptives

And… How do these experiences relate to other regions?

Some ideas for the RHS Coalition

• Target funding to strengthen the supply chain, institutionalization and capacity building (TA)– Not only to fill the contraceptive gap

• Analyze procurement models including vaccines revolving fund, CENABAST (Chile), UNFPA as procurement agent

• Take lessons learned from LAC and adapt to cultural and socio-economic conditions in other regions

A final message

Reproductive Health Commodity Security is achieved through strategic design, development and implementation of

policies and systems, that support forecasting, financing, procurement, and

delivery of products

THANK YOU!!

Guiding questions

• Did you see any similarities (challenges and strategies)?

• How is it relate to the regions where the Coalition members provide support?