Health Product Supply Chains in Developing Countries: Diagnosis of the Root Causes of Underperformance and an Agenda for Reform

TLDR

Supply chains delivering medicines, vaccines, and other health products are essential to health systems, yet in developing countries they are plagued by numerous problems that weaken the system’s ability to meet population health needs and jeopardize treatment programs. The article aims to identify key areas of reform so that supply chains enable—or at least do not impede—achieving targeted health outcomes from increased global health investments. The authors review the structure of health product supply chains in developing countries and map their main challenges and root causes.

Abstract

Abstract-Well-functioning supply chains to deliver medicines, vaccines, and other health products form the backbone of the health system. Health product supply chains in developing countries are fraught with many problems. Ineffective supply chains weaken the overall health system's ability to respond to the healthcare needs of the population and put treatment programs at risk. This article provides an overview of the structure of health product supply chains in developing countries and outlines the main challenges and their root causes. It aims to identify key areas of reform to ensure that supply chains enable-or at least do not impede-achieving the targeted health outcomes from the increased investments in global health.