Assessment of health supply chain management efficiency in Rwanda: case of nutrition and NCD products

Abstract

Background: In Rwanda, the supply of health commodities contains many items that we find out in supply chains, which present challenges and affect their efficient management. This study focused on two categories of products used in the non-communicable diseases program, and the mother, community, and child program. The objective of the study was to evaluate the management of the supply chain of these products.

Methodology: The present qualitative research was conducted towards different groups of the population from the central level including RBC/NCDs, RBC/MCCH, and RMS LTD to RMS branches as well as health facilities. The target population consisted of policy makers consisting of NCDs and MCCH staff, the quantification unit in charge of planning and inventory management from RMS headquarters, RMS branch managers and pharmacists chief of provincial and district hospitals. In total, the study was conducted among 79 respondents from central level to RMS branches, including hospitals, and the required information was saturated

Results: Our study assessed the efficiency of supply chain management in Rwanda and was limited to NCDs and nutritional products, and the system was found to be efficient in providing products to customers even if it is facing different challenges to resolve in order to optimize its efficiency. At the central level, the policymakers in NCDs and nutrition, the supply chain is efficient and, at the peripheral level, its efficiency is low at the level of RMS branches and hospitals

Conclusion: The Study participants highlighted challenges in managing the NCD and nutrition supply chain, including stock-outs, limited budget and poor quality data generated by hospitals. The management of the supply chain for nutritional and NCDs products is effective even though the obstacles still apparent, and once these difficulties are resolved, it will be effective at the highest possible level.