E-DRUG: Supply Chain Management: June 28-29 Geneva
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Save the Date - MEETING TOMORROW'S HEALTH CHALLENGES THROUGH WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT - June 28-29 at WHO/Geneva
Dear E-druggers,
Below please find information on an upcoming global conference that will bring together countries, global health stakeholders, and the private sector to assist countries to develop sustainable workforce excellence for health supply chain management. Please contact coord@peoplethatdeliver.org for more information (available in English, French and Spanish).
Best,
Kevin Pilz
Save the date !
PEOPLE THAT DELIVER: MEETING TOMORROW'S HEALTH CHALLENGES THROUGH WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
GLOBAL POSITIONING & HARMONIZATION CONFERENCE, GENEVA, JUNE 28-29 2011
A conference to improve health outcomes by strengthening human capacity to manage health supply chains and overcome existing and emerging health commodity challenges.
A conference where countries and stakeholders in global health commit to work together on a joint initiative to promote workforce excellence in health supply chain management.
When: June 28-29 2011
Where: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Contact: Anne-Catherine Réa, Institut Bioforce. tel + 33 4 72 89 74 78 email coord@peoplethatdeliver.org
DESCRIPTION OF THE GLOBAL CONFERENCE
Background: Major Challenge Facing Health Systems
Positive health outcomes require access to medicines and other health supplies, which in turn demands excellent performance from complex health supply chains. The health supply chain workforce therefore has an essential role in achieving global health goals, including the Millennium Development Goals for improving maternal health, reducing child mortality, and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Rapidly increasing health assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors has significantly benefited health programs, but has also resulted in huge increases in the quantity, value and complexity of supplies flowing through public health supply chains. The health supply chains of middle- and low-income countries, however, are often unable to respond reliably to existing demands, putting both health supplies and health outcomes at risk. Limitations on supply chain performance stem, in part, from the lack of a competent, recognized, and empowered health supply chain workforce.
The status of the supply chain workforce in low and middle-income country health systems stands in marked contrast to their status in the modern private sector, where supply chain management is recognized as a key strategic function that is as instrumental to institutional success. Many low- and middle-income health systems do not recognize that technical and managerial competencies are necessary for good supply chain management, do not require such competencies for those managing the supply chain, do not provide incentives to retain experienced supply chain staff, and do not involve supply chain managers in relevant decision-making processes. Under these circumstances, health supply chains are unlikely to perform to the standards desired by countries and development partners.
A broad group of governments and organizations have therefore united for a joint initiative that will raise the profile of supply chain management as a key strategic function of health systems and promote and support workforce excellence in health supply chain management. The Global Conference will: advocate with countries and the global health community to join the initiative; seek commitments from participant countries to promote workforce excellence for supply chain management; seek commitments from partners to utilize a harmonized approach that supports countries according to their needs and priorities; and develop plans for how the global initiative will support countries.
INITIATIVE GOAL:
IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES BY STRENGTHENING AND INSTITUTIONALIZING THE CAPACITY OF THE HEALTH WORKFORCE TO MANAGE SUPPLY CHAINS AND OVERCOME EXISTING AND EMERGING HEALTH SUPPLY CHALLENGES
CONFERENCE GOAL:
Countries and global health stakeholders commit to work together in a joint initiative to develop sustainable workforce excellence for health supply chain management, and outline the roadmap to accomplish this.
DESIRED OUTCOMES:
Raised awareness on the contribution of supply chain management to health outcomes and the need for strong technical and managerial capacity within the health workforce to successfully manage health supply chains.
Agreement from countries and development partners to participate in a joint initiative to develop sustainable workforce excellence for supply chain management, by strengthening the demand for and supply of highly competent health supply chain workers.
Agreed-upon plan of action for how the global initiative, global partners and countries will work together to support countries, according to their needs and priorities, as they strive to attain workforce excellence in health supply chain management.
DATES
June 28-29, 2011
LOCATION
World Health Organization Headquarters
Geneva, Switzerland
LANGUAGES
English, French and Spanish
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
The importance of supply chains for health outcomes
Elevating the status of supply chain management as a key strategic function within health systems
Describing the challenges for the health supply chain workforce
Improving the availability of qualified supply chain managers
Improving demand for and retention of qualified supply chain managers
Developing the strategy for a global initiative
Addressing country needs & priorities
Reaching agreement & moving forward
REGISTRATION AND LOGISTICS
Information on conference registration and logistics will be provided in the near future.
Contact Emmanuelle M'BAHIA, info@peoplethatdeliver.org
CONTACT
Anne-Catherine REA, Bioforce
tel + 33 4 72 89 74 78
email coord@peoplethatdeliver.org