Assessment of storage and inventory practices to improve medicine supply chain in Jubek State South Sudan

Abstract

In order to deliver quality health services, safe, effective, affordable and quality medicines are needed. Inappropriate storage conditions, poor infrastructure and poor medicine management practices may lead to poor medicines quality, stock damage and expiration. Assess storage and inventory practices to improve the medicine supply chain in South Sudan. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. The study population comprised 12 Health Centers in Juba where inventory management was practiced. Both questionnaire‐guided interviews for staff self‐assessment, and observer assessment were used by the researcher. With regard to storage and inventory management, the researcher collected data on the condition of storerooms with regards to availability of enough storage space, availability of enough storage equipment, and temperature conditions of the medicines stores, among others.The study found that store and inventory management practices varied widely in the different health facilities. Hospitals and central medical stores exhibited good or average inventory and storeroom management practices, respectively. The two hospitals and medical stores scored 100% in the elements in the assessment of storerooms and stock management. Some primary health care centers exhibited good inventory and store room management practice, whilst others were rated as average or poor. Most of the elements assessed scored 37% in storeroom assessment while elements assessed for inventory management scored less than 75%. There was great similarity between the observation assessment and the self-assessment. In conclusion, store and inventory management practices and knowledge of the respondents varied in the different health facilities. Hospitals and central medical stores exhibited good, average and poor inventory and storeroom management practices assessed through self-assessment and observation assessment by the researcher. There was a great similarity between the observation assessment and the self-assessment