Challenges in Procurement of Pharmaceuticals in the Ethiopian Health Institutions

Dessalegn Mirkena

doi:10.7176/iel/11-2-01

Abstract

Public procurement is crucial to government service delivery. Procurement of Pharmaceuticals in public hospitals has faced challenges that affect service delivery. Public procurement is a key tool to the overall achievements of development goals such as reducing poverty and providing health, infrastructure, education and other services hence immensely contribute to best utilization of public resources. The limited public resources should be properly managed to get the most out of these resources. Despite its importance, limited scientific research has been undertaken to examine the Challenges of procurement in public institutions in the case of Health institutions. This study aimed to describe challenges in procurement of pharmaceuticals in Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH). Specifically, the study sought to describe challenges in regards to the procurement process, procurement planning, staff competency, and information communication technology and procurement organization structure. The study was conducted through a descriptive design of research. The targeted respondents were 146 and comprise of Administration Officers and functional head that are members of tender committee and/or directly/indirectly involved in pharmaceutical procurements, Supply Chain and pharmaceuticals professionals, and pharmacy service professionals, Department heads of service delivery units and nurse heads of service delivery units in Jimma University Specialized Hospital. A structured questionnaire and interview as a data collection instrument were used. The field data were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics and narrative summary analyses. Findings indicate that lengthy pharmaceuticals procurement process, lack of employee competency ,poor culture of pharmaceuticals procurement planning are the most serious challenges in pharmaceuticals procurement and fully centralization of pharmaceuticals procurement activities and in efficient use of information communication technology are the next most serious challenges in pharmaceuticals procurement Jimma University specialized Hospital. Keywords: Procurement, Challenges, pharmaciuticals, Ethiopia, Health institutions, procurement Organizational structure DOI: 10.7176/IEL/11-2-01 Publication date: June 30 th 2021

Highlights

IntroductionPublic procurement is a key tool to achieve objectives of an economic, environmental and social nature gaining much attention globally over the past decades
Public procurement is a key tool to achieve objectives of an economic, environmental and social nature gaining much attention globally over the past decades. It is one of the main instruments to the achievement of development goals such as reducing poverty and providing health, infrastructure, education and other services immensely contribute to best utilization of public resources (Mlinga, 2009)
Pharmaceutical procurement process is inherently complex because it involves the coordination of MOH agencies, funding sources, suppliers, and manufacturers

Summary

Introduction

Public procurement is a key tool to achieve objectives of an economic, environmental and social nature gaining much attention globally over the past decades In developing countries, it is one of the main instruments to the achievement of development goals such as reducing poverty and providing health, infrastructure, education and other services immensely contribute to best utilization of public resources (Mlinga, 2009). In low-income countries, the process is often constrained by limited human resources, inadequate financing, an absence of information on prices and suppliers, lack of awareness of government and donor regulations, overlapping systems, and unsynchronized or outdated rules and guidelines. These constraints can contribute to delayed shipments, high prices, and, reduced access to essential medicines for consumers. Commodity security cannot be strengthened unless procurement functions are made more effective (MacManus, 2002)

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