Status and determinants of healthcare supply chain practices in public health facilities, Northwest Ethiopia: Mixed-method study

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to assess the current state of healthcare supply chain practices and discern the influencing factors from the perspective of healthcare professionals in the West Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia. Methodology: This research employed a cross-sectional study design, complemented by qualitative study. Data gathering encompassed self-administered surveys and in-depth face-to-face interviews conducted between 30 April and 30 June 2020. Epi-Data facilitated data entry, while SPSS version 20 conducted subsequent analysis. Multiple linear regression was executed, deeming variables with a p-value less than 0.05 as indicative of a significant association. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze the qualitative data. Result: A total of 425 questionnaires were disseminated, with 413 (97.2%) effectively completed and returned. Procurement, after-procurement service, and monitoring and evaluation emerged as areas with suboptimal performance, registering mean values of 2.85, 2.24, and 1.86, respectively. In contrast, storage practices demonstrated relatively superior performance, with a mean value of 3.34. Multiple linear regression analyses unveiled significant correlations between various practices and factors such as training frequency, proficiency of staff in Integrated Pharmaceutical Logistics System (IPLS), managerial support, and proximity to Pharmaceutical Fund and Supply Agency (PFSA). Moreover, impediments to supply chain practices were identified, encompassing limited medication availability at PFSA, budget constraints, tardy reimbursement by the Health Insurance Agency, and a dearth of technicians adept in medical equipment maintenance. Conclusion: The implementation status of healthcare supply chain practices within public health facilities was discerned to be inadequate, with several impediments hindering their effective execution.