Factors affecting sustainability of new technologies for health supply chain management in the regional referral hospitals of Uganda

Abstract

Background: The lack of sustainability of suitable health technologies has been mooted as one of the causes of poor performance of health supply chains in many countries. This together with poor supply chain practices results into weak information systems, poor commodity management and ultimately stock outs and wastages. Addressing challenges related to sustainability of new technologies is therefore critical in realizing the benefits of the technologies in improving Health Supply Chain Management (HSCM). This study assessed factors affecting sustainability of new technologies in HSCM in Regional Referral Hospitals of Uganda (RRHs). Method: This was a mixed methods study employing both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Participants were purposively selected from fourteen RRHs Uganda. The data collected was entered into epidata, cleaned and exported to SPSS version 26 and Microsoft excel for analysis. Results: Most of the RRHs reported having no access to reliable internet connectivity 9 (64.3%), no Information Technology (IT) staff to support use of technologies 10 (71.4%) and no separate budget for new technologies 13(92.8%) and their maintenance 11(78.6%). Most of the funding for introduction of the new technologies was provided by the implementing partners 11 (78.6%). Filling of established supply chain management positions and training of supply chain staff on use of new technology in majority of RRHs 6(42.9%) was to a level of 75%. The majority 11(78.6%) of the respondents revealed that technology had increased their workload and few 6(42.9%) were consulted before a new technology was introduced. Only half 7 (50%) reported having adequate knowledge on use of the new technologies. The proposed interventions to improve sustainability of new technologies included; involvement of various stakeholders, good leadership and governance, capacity building, budgeting and planning for new technologies. Conclusion and recommendations: The main facility factors reported to affect sustainability of new technologies were lack of separate budget for maintenance of new technologies, few supply chain staff, lack of access to reliable internet connectivity and lack of IT support. Increased workload and lack of consultation before introduction of new technologies were reported as individual factors affecting sustainability. The government needs to improve on provision and maintenance of new technologies infrastructure such as reliable internet connectivity, electricity and computers, fill existing staffing positions to 100%, plan and separate budget allocation for new technologies maintenance. The government should consider creating positions of IT in RRHs structure