Course Announcement
Procurement and Supply Management (PSM) for the Uninitiated Professional
Location: Royal Suites, Bugolobi, Kampala, Uganda
Overview:
Pharmasystafrica and Makerere University are offering a one-week survey course on responding to in-country PSM bottle necks and challenges. The course will be tailored to address actual in-country PSM challenges based on a collection of case studies. Orientation and training of in-country professionals and technical assistance providers based on country needs and priorities is critical to improving capacity building outcomes and enhance sustainability.
Scope and intent:
Procurement and supply management (PSM) challenges represent a key bottleneck to access of effective treatments in resource-limited settings. Key to strengthening PSM systems is the orientation and training of technical assistance providers based on global vision and priorities. Although there are a number of agencies and consultants who provide capacity building support in the PSM area, most of these are not located in the immediate vicinity of the need and constantly, demand outstrips supply. The limited numbers of experts becomes a bottleneck to PSM systems strengthening and implementation. There is thus need to develop more experts with appropriate skills to assist partners in low-income countries of the South to address program, national and regional challenges.
Target Audience:
The training will target professionals with key roles in PSM systems including those supported by national governments and international organizations. Participants will also include professionals with an interest in building their skills as independent PSM consultants.
For logistical purposes, the training will be restricted to 30 participants. These will be selected based on stringent criteria. The fee for this course, a first of its kind, is $1600.00. Meals, accommodation, airport transfers and transport to and from the training venue are included in the fee. Full or partial scholarships will be available for those who are selected to participate, but are not able to meet some or all of the costs associated with the course. The fee for non-resident participants is $800.00 even though we encourage participants to stay at the training site due to the intensity of the course. The language of instruction is English. A French course will be organized in West Africa during the latter part of the year.
Course Content
The course content includes key aspects of the PSM systems, based on in-country case studies. By the end of the course, participants will be:
i. Able to critically appraise PSM plans, in the context of organisational structures and health systems in which they are placed
ii. Conversant with the different approaches and methodologies to assess PSM systems
iii. Able to identify factors contributing to a well-performing PSM system in developing countries
iv. Measure the performance of a PSM system using appropriate indicators
v. Introduced to problem solving oriented approaches to capacity building for pharmaceutical systems in low resource settings
vi. Be equipped with the necessary skills to prepare various reports required in consultancies for PSM capacity building
Course Faculty
The principal facilitators for this course will come from the Global Fund, WHO, PharmaSystAfrica, Makerere University and other agencies. Profiles of faculty will be posted on the course brochures.
Application
Please apply online at www.pharmasystafrica.com or by e-mail to: info@pharmasystafrica.com .The deadline for applications is Friday, May 6, 2011.
Requests for additional information and support for participation should be sent to telephone number +1 502 298 5515 or
mailto:info@pharmasystafrica.com