A proposed healthcare supply chain management framework in the emerging economies with the sustainable lenses: The theory, the practice, and the policy

Abstract

Some studies have emphasized the sustainable applications in the emerging countries on the environmental, social, and economic improvement action development. Establishing the Triple Bottom Line initiatives based on the healthcare supply chain becomes a sustainable management strategy. This research is a healthcare supply chain analysis in the emerging countries and it proposes, through the sustainable lenses, a management framework. The study was development in a private healthcare institution in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The main objective is the analysis of the central sterilization service department and the stockroom in the supply chain through the sustainable lenses. The observation period is between December 2016 and June 2017. The research study presents four materials in the results: the cardboard, the paperboard, the plastic, and the nonwoven sterile barrier system. The study shows the theory, the practice, and the policy. The theory presents data on the Brazilian reality related to the waste disposal, the unsanitary activity, and the stimulation for the correct segregation. The practice proposes the recycling activity implementation. The policy aims at emphasizing the corporate social responsibility in the philosophy of the healthcare institution. The conclusion is that the healthcare supply chain management is capable to improve the population’s quality life and to offer new sustainable application perspective. The healthcare institution, based on the Triple Bottom Line, must implement the educational program, develop the corporate social responsibility, and interact with the community.