Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Risk Management Practice: The Case of District Town Public Health Facilities of East Gojjam Zone Amhara Region Northwest Ethiopia from January to June 2023

Abstract

ntroduction: Supply chain risk management is the process of identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of risks. Pharmaceutical supply chain potentially faces different types of risks, broadly classified as supply, cost, production, demand and miscellaneous related risks. Objective: To assess pharmaceutical supply chain risk management practice: the case of district town public health facilities of East Gojjam zone Amhara region northwest Ethiopia Method: An explanatory and descriptive facility based study design was employed. Totally, 158 samples were involved in the stud through purposive sampling technique. Semi-structured interview guide, questionnaires, and risk checklists were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The Excel-derived failure mode and effect analysis template, and SPSS version 24 were used for the data analysis. Thematic analysis of qualitative data were employed. Result: supply side risks followed by environmental side risk and demand side risks take the priority in disrupting the supply chain. Previous risk assessment were implemented smallmoderate extent. Overall implementation of risk management practices was adopted to a medium level. SCRM Capability was small to “moderate extent”. Inefficient supply of EPSS and private supplier in kind and quantity, budget restriction, rigidity of government procurement policy, and unavailability of drugs from supplier were some of the challenges of supply chain practice. Risk consequence, supply chain risk have low negative, Educational status and work experience have very low positive correlation with supply chain risk management practice. Identified and prioritized supply chain risks were managed in different ways based on the cause of the risk. Conclusion: In public health facilities of East Gojjam zone supply-side risks, environmental-side risks, and demand-side risks take priority in disrupting supply chain. Implementation of risk identification and supply chain risk management practices was implemented to a medium level..