Medicines value chain management level in Cuban health system

Abstract

The value networks management in the pharmaceutical sector is fundamental to guide the work of health entities to the demands of patients. The Cuban health system is characterized by the full and free access of its citizens to these services. The medicines supply chain is of vital importance to complete health services, and in Cuba a specialized logistics operator manages it. This focuses on achieving the medicines availability according to the patients’ demands. This study presents the medicine supply chain and the evolution of its management level since 2015. The qualitative evaluation of its performance is carried out using the Value Network Reference Model as a methodological tool. The result shows that in 2018 the medicines chain reach a medium performance level and that, based on this diagnosis, the development projects are elaborated according to the needs identified. The Cuban medicines supply chain is a reference of the logistic support that sustains this health system and for other chains in Cuba, when it shows management levels above the national average of three points.