An Assessment Of The Strategies For Mitigating Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Disruption During COVID-19 At The Central Medical Stores Namibia

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted Namibia&s public sector pharmaceutical supply chain. This study aimed to investigate the strategies for mitigating pharmaceutical supply chain disruption during COVID-19 using Central Medical Stores Namibia as a case study. The study employed a case study design to explore the research area intensively. Unstructured interviews were conducted with seven pharmacists from Central Medical Stores who were purposively selected. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis with the aid of ATLAS.ti software. Seven (7) pharmacists working at Central Medical Stores were included in this study. The participants highlighted various thematic issues reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on medicines procurement, access and distribution within the healthcare system. These themes included managing the supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic; COVID-19 pandemic-induced supply chain challenges; Approaching supply chain challenges; medicines shortages; and looking into the future. The study found that there needs to be government intervention to encourage local manufacturing, international intervention to prevent the hoarding of pharmaceuticals by rich nations, adoption of long-term procurement contracts, establishing of good communication with suppliers, having a sufficient budget for pharmaceuticals, training employees in supply chain management and adequate storage space in order to mitigate pharmaceutical supply chain challenges at the Central Medical Stores during COVID-19.