[e-drug] Improving Health Outcomes in Zambia and Tanzania through Technology Innovation

e-drug
1

E-DRUG: Improving Health Outcomes in Zambia and Tanzania through Technology Innovation
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On February 20, 2014, Zambia officially launched its new electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS), a revolutionary and cost-effective system that ensures greater commodity security and better health outcomes for the people of Zambia and Tanzania. The eLMIS will enable a transition from a paper-based system of data management to an electronic format which will foster better, faster, and more accurate reporting of supply chain data, reduce stockouts of health commodities, and ultimately provide better access to medicines to improve health outcomes.

The system was pioneered by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health in Zambia, in partnership with the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Supply Chain Management System (SCMS), and the USAID | DELIVER PROJECT.

For more information about eLMIS in Zambia, visit http://bit.ly/1oILeaq

"Anne Marie Hvid"
John Snow Internatonal
<anne_marie_hvid@jsi.com>

2

E-DRUG: Improving Health Outcomes in Zambia and Tanzania through Technology Innovation (2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am convinced that a new eLMIS might be a vey good thing.
However, I do not believe that such a tool will directly improve health outcomes, as the authors seem to suggest.
As we know, the relation between processes and health outcomes is extremely complex, so let us remain humble in claiming outcome results by introducing new tools.

René Dubbeldam,
Public Health Physician
Netherlands
René Dubbeldam <renedubbeldam@me.com>

3

E-DRUG: Improving Health Outcomes in Zambia and Tanzania through Technology Innovation (3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I fully agree with René Dubbeldam and what he said in a short sentence
holds true for many other new interventions.

While a new electronic LMIS is very promising indeed and will no doubt
facilitate logistics information flow and timing, it first has to be fully
implemented and rolled out, become operational and functional. Here we
depend entirely on health workers, including their capacity, competence
and motivation to actually use the new system correctly. And use it better
than the old manual system. This may show results in terms of good data
and information in the supply chain. But to see improved health outcomes
is still a long way and will depend on lots of systemic factors that are
unrelated to the new LMIS technology.

Nevertheless I hope and am quite certain that the eLMIS in both countries
will at least facilitate SCM information management and improve
availability of medicines.... a fantastic first step to better health
care!

Karin Wiedenmayer
Pharmaceutical Public Health Expert
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
Basel, Switzerland
Karin.Wiedenmayer@unibas.ch

4

E-DRUG: Improving Health Outcomes in Zambia and Tanzania through Technology Innovation (4)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Impression, being at a meeting with local partner organizations of Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa, in Dar es Salaam.

All comments are right of course. However if we look at the well known image of the Supply Chain Management cycle (pictures are not allowed, so I summarize it here under in text), it is clear that a functioning LMIS in the whole local chain (CMS --> PMS --> DMS --> HC) is a precondition for an efficient functioning medical supply chain.

SCM cycle (for illustration):
Process activities: selection, forecasting&quantification, procurement, inventory/storage/distribution, serving customers, quality monitoring, and back to (re)selection etc
Pre conditions: LMIS, pipeline monitoring, organization & staffing, budgeting, supervision, evaluation.

Stock outs are rather common everywhere. And forecasting and quantification, a major issue for all, is not easy without a proper LMIS. So let's celebrate the day the eLMIS will be 100% implemented in Tanzania and Zambia. Sante.

Kind regards. Arnout van der Maas
Business Development Consultant, i+solutions, universal access to essential medicines
phone: +31 0348 489 630 - fax +31 348 489 659,
address: Polanerbaan 11, 3447 GN, Woerden, The Netherlands
Arnout van der Maas <avdmaas@iplussolutions.org>

5

E-DRUG: Improving Health Outcomes in Zambia and Tanzania through Technology Innovation (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear colleagues,
Many thanks for comments and observations made on this subject and the programme here in Zambia. I do acknowledge that we are all looking at services, systems, tools that will result in positive health outcomes. Attributions are of course a tricky thing, and in multi-faceted programmes like public health, positive health outcomes might not be attributed to only one type of input all the time.

There is an interesting and thought-provoking statement from People that Deliver, on the need for “global recognition that strong supply chains are essential for positive health outcomes and require a competent, recognized and supported supply chain workforce with significant technical and managerial capacity". That statement we can add the need for working tools that enable staff to do their work efficiently, with positive impact on health service provision.

Regards,
Bonnie

Bonface Fundafunda PhD., MBA., B.Pharm
Managing Director,
Medical Stores Limited
P.O. Box 30207
Mukwa Road, Plot 6446
Lusaka,
Zambia
Tel (Dir): +260 211 246510 (Dir)Tel (General): + 242768/ 244105 / 242346
Fax: +260 211 246288
Mobile: + 260 979 25 29 00
Email: bonface.fundafunda@medstore.co.zm
Web: www.medstore.co.zm

6

E-DRUG: Improving Health Outcomes in Zambia and Tanzania through Technology Innovation (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear colleagues,

Dr. Fundafunda is right on his comment on LMIS tools.
Tools are essential for any system, not just healthcare or supply chain
systems. Again as in any system, tools evolve for ease of use and to remain
relevant to system changes. In this era of automation, implementation of electronic
LMIS tools is a documented enabler to SCM staff to perform their tasks
effectively and efficiently. It is for this reason that the report on achieving
this in Tanzania and Zambia should be applauded.

Dr. Lloyd Matowe
Pharmaceutical Systems Africa,
Monrovia, Liberia
lmatowe@pharmasystafrica.com