A society’s well-being depends greatly on how easy it is for people to access quality health care. For public health initiatives to succeed, the supply chains that support them must be thoughtfully designed — especially in low- and middle-income countries, where resources can be limited.
How can tailoring supply chains to support public health initiatives positively impact health care accessibility and outcomes? Let’s dive in.
Understanding the challenges
Historically, low- and middle-income countries have faced obstacles when it comes to public health — challenges that continue to threaten people’s health and well-being. These include:
- Resource constraints: Limited funding, infrastructure, and human resources can hinder health care delivery.
- Geographical diversity: Many low- and middle-income countries have diverse landscapes, from densely populated urban centers to remote rural areas, making health care accessibility a complex issue.
- Disease burden: Low- and middle-income countries often grapple with high disease burdens, including infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases, which require robust health care supply chains.
- Data gaps: Insufficient data on health care delivery can lead to inefficient resource allocation and suboptimal outcomes.
- Equity: Ensuring that health care services are accessible to all, regardless of income or location, is a pressing concern.
By addressing these challenges, decision-makers can work to build a resilient health system.
Supply chain design: A game changer
A well-designed supply chain can help address health care challenges in low- and middle-income countries. Here’s why it’s so crucial:
- Tailored solutions: Designing a supply chain specific to the needs and constraints of a particular region or health care initiative allows for more efficient and effective resource allocation. Every region is unique; implementing customized solutions is the first step to solving pressing health care challenges.
- Resource optimization: Well-designed supply chains minimize waste, reduce costs, and ensure that resources are used to their fullest potential. When decision-makers have an environment to test, experiment and simulate design outcomes, they can refine designs and ensure that their intended purpose is achieved.
- Accessibility: Customized supply chains can bridge geographical gaps, reaching even the most remote and underserved populations. Understanding constraints in logistics — for example, remote locations that can only be accessed by multimodal means, such as drones — helps improve accessibility.
- Resilience: A carefully designed supply chain can better withstand disruptions, whether they are caused by natural disasters, pandemics or political instability.
- Data-driven decision-making: Supply chain design incorporates data-driven decision-making processes, enhancing forecasting, reducing stockouts, and improving overall supply chain performance. Analyzing data can help decision-makers quickly and more accurately anticipate disruptions and identify potential obstacles.
Realizing success: Case studies
Let’s look at a couple of real-world examples that show the transformative power of designing appropriate supply chains for public health initiatives in low- and middle-income countries:
Last Mile Health in Liberia
The low-income West African country Liberia faces challenges in providing health care to people in remote areas.
Last Mile Health partnered with Liberia’s Ministry of Health to design a supply chain tailored to reach isolated regions. It utilized community health workers, strengthened data collection and analysis, and implemented innovative logistics solutions.
The results? Since 2016, community health workers in Liberia have provided more than 1.4 million treatments to children under 5 for malaria, diarrhea and acute respiratory infection. These health workers have conducted more than 16.4 million routine home visits during that timeframe, ensuring that people living in remote areas can access health care.
The Global Fund’s malaria initiatives
Malaria remains a major health threat in many low- and middle-income countries. The Global Fund’s efforts to combat malaria include designing supply chains for the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets and antimalarial medications.
By optimizing the supply chain design, the organization achieved significant reductions in malaria-related deaths and infections through the distribution of 227 million mosquito nets (2023) and treatment of 171 million cases of malaria (2022).
The future of public health depends on supply chain design
The importance of designing appropriate supply chains to support public health initiatives in low- and middle-income countries cannot be overstated. These supply chains are the backbone of health care delivery, impacting accessibility, efficiency and overall health outcomes. By investing in the development of tailored supply chains, countries can overcome resource constraints, bridge geographical divides, and ensure that health care services are accessible to all.
In a world where global health crises and pandemics are ever-present threats, the need for adaptable and resilient supply chains in low- and middle-income countries is greater than ever. It’s time to recognize supply chain design as a crucial tool for enhancing public health initiatives and making quality health care a reality for everyone, regardless of their location or income level.
