From Six Rights to Results: Improving Access to Contraceptives

"Without an uninterrupted supply of quality products to every health facility in a country, women and men are unable to plan their families, which impacts the health and prosperity of individuals, as well as health systems and economies."

To mark World Contraception Day, on September 26 2013, this article highlights the importance of logistics in providing access to contraceptives. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deliver Project works with governments in developing countries to improve access to family planning commodities and other health commodities through improving the health supply chain. The goal is to ensure supply chains that work efficiently and effectively deliver products "according to the six rights: The right products, in the right quantities, in the right condition, to the right place, at the right time, for the right cost."

"An important lesson learned is that no single model fits all. Each country has a unique set of challenges, be it political, organizational, geographic, financial, or all of the above.

However, a common denominator for a well-functioning supply system is data. Decisions made by managers at each level of the supply chain hinge on what they know. How much product should be sent to a certain health facility? When does a district warehouse need more stock? What and how much should be ordered from a manufacturer? Improving data systems is key to supporting health supply chains. In other words, being in the know pays off."

The article highlights Zimbabwe's Delivery Team Topping Up (DTTU), a supply chain system based on the principle of vendor-managed inventory. DTTU teams collect data using "rugged" laptops while restocking facilities, providing national-level data for consumption and stock on hand. "Advances in technology are also helping reduce stockouts in a number of countries. With the use of mobile phones, health workers are improving logistics data collection in Tanzania and Ghana. In Pakistan and Nepal, web-based logistics management information systems, connected to computerized inventory management systems, are expanding supply chain visibility. In Ghana, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia, monitoring and evaluation data is transmitted via SMS [text] messages. Countries are increasingly moving from paper-based to electronic systems, and some countries are collaborating to leverage cost savings by jointly developing data systems, as in the case of Tanzania and Zambia...." In addition, donors are able to monitor stocks through data visibility and respond to supply emergencies. "Family planning programs depend on a sure flow of supplies to empower women and men to take control of their reproductive health."

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