Critical success factors in the supply chain management of essential medicines in the public health-care system in Malawi

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to report on a study that investigated the critical success factors (CSFs) in the supply chain management of essential medicines in the public health-care delivery system in Malawi. Design/methodology/approach The exploratory and descriptive study followed a qualitative and quantitative research approach. Data were collected by means of semistructured interviews and a questionnaire administered to suppliers of essential medicines, regulators, donors and logistics companies in Malawi. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Findings The findings revealed that the significant CSFs are knowledge of disease patterns and prevalence, skills and experience of personnel, adequate financial resources, collaboration with supply chain partners and an efficient procurement and distribution system. Research limitations/implications There were a number of limitations in this study. Although every effort was made to carefully and purposefully select the participants for the in-depth interviews in the first phase of the study and the respondents for the questionnaire in the second phase of the study, they were not randomly selected. As such, the findings cannot be generalised to all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical supply chain in Malawi. However, they can be used as a basis for further research on the topic. Originality/value No previous studies that deal with the identification of CSFs in the Malawi pharmaceutical supply chain were found. Therefore, this research makes a twofold contribution to the body of knowledge in the field. First, it identifies CSFs; second, it could assist stakeholders in the public health-care service delivery system in Malawi with regard to how they can improve the supply of essential medicines.

Measuring the impact of critical factors on government supported healthcare supply chain: an approach towards efficient governance

“…It is found from literature review that many researchers have recognized the enablers, barriers and performance indicators of GHSC and suggested a variety of methodologies to control enablers and barriers in terms of factors for improving the impact of CFs on HSC in general and GHSC in specific (Dixit et al , 2019). Although, various under-developing and developing countries such as Malawi, Ethiopia, etc., identified and investigated the CFs of essential medicines in GHSC for enhancing enablers and reducing barriers (Jæger et al , 2021; Kaupa and Naude, 2021), but the health-care institutions in India especially government-supported/public health-care institutions are very slow in adopting these practices in their premises and GHSC (Chate et al , 2021). A number of methodologies such as weighted sum method, weighted product methods, structural equation modeling (SEM) and GTA are used for measuring the interdependence between the CFs (Soni et al , 2014).…”

Customized Approach to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculations in Railway Freight Transport

“…These semi-structured interviews allow the collecting of direct insights of respondents [46]. This method was used, for example, by Karolemeas et al [47] to develop a methodological framework for identifying suitable locations for the deployment of electric vehicle charging points in urban environments; by Kaupa and Naude [48] to report on a study that investigated the critical success factors in supply chain management of essential medicines in the public health care delivery system in Malawi; by Schlegel et al [49] to investigate how big data analytic capabilities enable the implementation of integrated business planningthe advanced form of sales and operations planning-by counteracting the increasing information processing requirements.…”

Editorial

“…Ubuntu emphasizes the role of trust and loyalty among supply chain actors and how they create more value compared to other economic models. Both Sharma and Naude (2021) and Eyaa and Ryan (2021) address the challenges in interactions between buyers and suppliers, where the former attributes the challenges to actors not valuing each other's contribution to the relationship, while the latter attributes The study of Kaupa and Naude (2021) cites several challenges in the supply chains of essential medicines in Malawi, and they propose, among other solutions, that governments need to invest in good infrastructure to simplify and reduce the cost of distribution of medicines to the most remote areas of the country. The study of Mayounga ( 2021) also cites governments' role in investing in quality education and in good infrastructure that would enhance the economic and logistic competitiveness of African economies.…”

“…The paper by Kaupa and Naude (2021), entitled “Critical success factors in the SCM of essential medicines in the public healthcare system in Malawi,” is different: it looks at the inefficiencies in public sector supply chains. The authors investigated the reasons behind the regular stock-outs of essential medicines at both the Central Medical Stores Trust and in public health facilities in Malawi.…”

“…The study of Kaupa and Naude (2021) cites several challenges in the supply chains of essential medicines in Malawi, and they propose, among other solutions, that governments need to invest in good infrastructure to simplify and reduce the cost of distribution of medicines to the most remote areas of the country. The study of Mayounga (2021) also cites governments’ role in investing in quality education and in good infrastructure that would enhance the economic and logistic competitiveness of African economies.…”