Enhancement of supply chain factors affecting health care delivery in public hospitals in Africa: A case of selected hospital in Zambia

Caroline Simbeza; Romeo Yohane

doi:10.51867/ajernet.7.3.38

Authors

Caroline Simbeza The University of Zambia
Romeo Yohane The University of Zambia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3786-1675

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.7.3.38

Keywords:

Current Practices, Health Care Delivery System, Public Hospitals, Supply Chain, Zambia

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to assess the how Supply Chain factors affecting Health Care Delivery at selected public University Teaching Hospitals can be mitigated and enhanced. This enhancement is argued in terms making processes flexible and responsive in ordering and delivery processes, while maintaining transparency and achieving value-for-money in the procurement of essential medicines and health commodities. This research paper was guided by the theoretical development of Supply Chain Management (SCM). In its methodological consideration, the research paper employed an embedded mixed method design with qualitative playing a more dominant role. The research had a population of 540, and then obtained a sample size of 110 respondents and 10 participants. These were selected using a combination of expert purposive sampling and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide and a questionnaire, and the analysis was conducted both thematically and descriptively using SPSS version 22. A major finding of this research paper is that the enhancement of supply chain management can be achieved through proper personnel training, structured scheduling, reduction of medicine prices, and providing reliable high-speed internet connectivity significantly improves the availability, accessibility, and efficiency of healthcare delivery in Zambia. The research study concluded that addressing these challenges is critical to ensuring the timely and efficient delivery of essential medical supplies and services. Implementing technology solutions such as inventory management systems, electronic health records, and supply chain analytics could significantly improve visibility and tracking across the supply chain. These advancements would enable better forecasting, real-time monitoring of stock levels, and the early detection of potential issues, thereby enhancing efficiency and responsiveness. The study recommends that Supply chain managers should proactively incorporate risk management techniques during the planning stages of the supply chain to mitigate potential disruptions. The government should also invest in advanced information technology systems to manage supply chain risks effectively and enhance supply chain resilience, particularly in the healthcare sector.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Atiende, M. J., & Ndolo, J. (2025). Transparent procurement practices and performance of medical supply chain in Kenya. International Journal of Business and Management (IJBM), 4(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.56879/ijbm.v4i1.64

Bennett, S., & Muraleedharan, V. R. (2000). 'New public management' and health care in the Third World. Economic and Political Weekly, 35(1/2), 59-68.

Bode, C., Wagner, S. M., Petersen, K. J., & Ellram, L. M. (2011). Understanding responses to supply chain disruptions: Insights from information processing and resource dependence perspectives. Academy of Management Journal, 54(4), 833-856.

https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2011.64870145

Choi, T., Wallace, S. W., & Wang, Y. (2016). Risk management and coordination in service supply chains: Information, logistics and outsourcing. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 67(2), 159-164. https://doi.org/10.1057/jors.2015.115

Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.). SAGE.

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE.

Curran, M. A. (2001). Developing a tool for environmentally preferable purchasing. Environmental Management and Health, 12(3), 244-253. https://doi.org/10.1108/09566160110392308

Das, D. (2017). Public expenditure and healthcare utilization: The case of reproductive health care in India. International Journal of Health Economics and Management, 17(4), 473-494. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10754-017-9219-7

Douglas, M., Mollenkopf, D., Castillo, V., Bell, J., & Dickey, E. (2021). Journeys, not destinations: Theorizing a process view of supply chain integrity. Journal of Business Ethics, 181, 195-220. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04906-0

Erixon, F., Ferracane, M. F., & Van der Marel, E. (2015). The health of nations: A transatlantic trade and investment agenda for better healthcare. European Centre for International Political Economy.

World Economic Forum. (2016). The global enabling trade report 2016. World Economic Forum.

Fenton, N., & Cali, C. (2020, February 26). What's the impact of an impact investment? European Investment Bank.

Grose, J., & Richardson, J. (2014). Strategies to identify future shortages due to interruptions in the health care procurement supply chain and their impact on health services: A method from the English National Health Service. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 19(1), 19-26. https://doi.org/10.1177/1355819613502172

Gunasekaran, A., Irani, Z., & Papadopoulos, T. (2014). Modelling and analysis of sustainable operations management: Certain investigations for research and applications. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 65(6), 806-823.

https://doi.org/10.1057/jors.2013.171

Haruţa, C., & Radu, B. (2010). The invisible hand or what makes the bureaucracy indispensable? A short theoretical inquiry into the bureaucracy's role in the policy-making process. Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 6(29), 62-70.

Jedermann, R. (2014). Introduction: Reducing food losses by intelligent food logistics. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 372(2017), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2013.0302

Johns, B., & Torres, T. T. (2005). Costs of scaling up health interventions: A systematic review. Health Policy and Planning, 20(1), 1-13.

https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czi001

Kimathi, L. (2017). Challenges of the devolved health sector in Kenya: Teething problems or systemic contradictions? Africa Development / Afrique et Développement, 42(1), 55-77.

Lewis, M. (2006). Governance and corruption in public health care systems. Center for Global Development.

https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.984046

Schlesinger, M. (1987). Paying the price: Medical care, minorities, and the newly competitive health care system. Milbank Quarterly, 65(Suppl. 2, Pt. 2), 270-296. https://doi.org/10.2307/3349992

Mensah, J. (2014). The global financial crisis and access to health care in Africa. Africa Today, 60(3), 35-54.

https://doi.org/10.2979/africatoday.60.3.35

Morrison, M. I. (2013). The acquisition supply chain and the security of government information technology purchases. Public Contract Law Journal, 42(4), 749-792.

Minior, T., Douglas, M., Edgil, D., Srivastava, M., Crowley, J., Firth, J., Lapidos-Salaiz, I., Williams, J., & Lee, L. (2017). The critical role of supply chains in preventing human immunodeficiency virus drug resistance in low- and middle-income settings. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 216(Suppl. 9), S812-S815. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jix403

Niraj, R., Gupta, M., & Narasimhan, C. (2001). Customer profitability in a supply chain. Journal of Marketing, 65(3), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkg.65.3.1.18332

Office of the Auditor General. (2024). Report of the Auditor General on the accounts of the Republic for the financial year ended 31 December 2024. Government of the Republic of Zambia.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2011). Procurement capacity development guidelines: Final terms of reference: OECD/DAC Task Force on Procurement. OECD.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2016). Strengthening country procurement systems: Results and opportunities. OECD.

Ranganathan, C., Dhaliwal, J. S., & Teo, T. S. H. (2004). Assimilation and diffusion of web technologies in supply-chain management: An examination of key drivers and performance impacts. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 9(1), 127-161. https://doi.org/10.1080/10864415.2004.11044319

Shekar, M., & Otto, K. (2014). ICTs for health in Africa. World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/19020

https://doi.org/10.1596/19020

Smith, B. G. (2008). Developing sustainable food supply chains. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 363(1492), 849-861. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2007.2187

Urassa, E., Massawe, S., Lindmark, G., & Nyström, L. (1997). Operational factors affecting maternal mortality in Tanzania. Health Policy and Planning, 12(1), 50-57. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/12.1.50

World Health Organization. (2023). Access to NCD medicines: Emergent issues during the COVID-19 pandemic and key structural factors. World Health Organization.

Woods, B., & Bochman, A. (2018). Supply chain in the software era. Atlantic Council.

Yadav, P. (2015). Health product supply chains in developing countries: Diagnosis of the root causes of underperformance and an agenda for reform. Health Systems & Reform, 1(2), 142-154. https://doi.org/10.4161/23288604.2014.968005

Government of the Republic of Zambia. (2021). Yellow book: Estimates of revenue and expenditure for the year 2021. Ministry of Finance.