The Impact of Supply Chain Management Practices on Service Delivery: A Case of the Public Health Sector in Zambia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59413/ajocs/v6.i4.2

Keywords:

Supply Chain Management, Service Delivery, Public Health Sector, Zambia, Inventory Management, Healthcare Logistics

Abstract

This study explores the influence of supply chain management (SCM) practices on service delivery in Zambia's public health sector. Using a quantitative descriptive approach, data were collected from 49 respondents across public health facilities regarded as Level 1 or Mini Hospitals in Zambia. Key SCM practices such as procurement planning, supplier relationship management, and inventory management were assessed for their impact on equity, cost-effectiveness, and availability of medical supplies. Findings show that these practices significantly influence service delivery, accounting for 54% of its variability. The study recommends enhancing information sharing, formalizing supplier relationships, and optimizing inventory management to address gaps in service delivery.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Acosta, A., 2019. Medicine Shortages: Gaps Between Countries and Global Perspectives. Drugs Outcomes Research and Policies, Volume 10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.00763

Chileshe, M. J., 2022. The Impact Of Supply Chain Management Practices On Performance Of Small And Medium Enterprises.. 1 ed. Lusaka: University of Zambia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/ojbm.2022.102033

Currin, L. L., 2020. The Rising Costs of Hospital Pharmaceutical Shortages and The. s.l.:Liberty University, School of Business.

Dulani, B., Mattes, R. & Logan, C., 2013. After a Decade of Growth in Africa, Little Change in Poverty at the Grassroots, s.l.: Afro Barometer, Let the people have a say.

Health, M. O., 1999. Zambia National Drug, Lusaka: s.n.

Jelle Stekelenburg, S. S. K. I. W., 2003. Poor performance of community health workers in Kalabo District, Zambia. Elsevier, 65(2), pp. 109-118. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-8510(02)00207-5

Lavrakas, P., 2008. Encyclopedia of Survey Research Methods. 2nd ed. s.l.:SAGE Publications, Inc. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412963947

Lukali, V. & Michelo, C., 2015. Factors Associated with Irrational Drug use at a District Hospital in Zambia: Patient Record-based Observations. Medical Journal of Zambia, 42(1), p. 1.

Mattes, R., 2020. Lived Poverty on the Rise: Decade of Living-standard gains ends in Africa, s.l.: Afrobarometer Policy Paper No. 62.

Michelo, V. L. &. C., 2015. Factors Associated with Irrational Drug use at a District Hospital in Zambia: Patient Record-based Observations. Medical Journal of Zambia, Vol. 42(No. 1), pp. 25-30.

Muturi, 2020. Effective Logistics in Public Health Systems. African Journal of Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 12(4), pp. 89-102.

Neeta Baporikar, D. S. K., 2020. Supply Chain Management Perspective on Shortages in Drugs Sourcing. International Journal of Applied Logistics (IJAL), p. 24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/IJAL.2020070104

P Njunguna, M. M., 2017. Influence of supply chain management practices on the performance of fast moving manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 6(3), pp. 679-693. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61426/sjbcm.v6i3.1349

Pereira, A., 2004. Live and Let live: Health care is a fundamenta Human Right. Connecticut Public Interes law, 2(3), pp. 481-503.

Ruth Mwikali, S. K., 2012. Factors affecting the selection of optimal suppliers in procurement management. International Journal of humanities and social science, pp. 189-193.

Shah, 2016. Inventory Management in Public Health. Jounal of health syatems research, pp. 215-230.

Suhong Li, B. R.-N. T. R.-N. S. R., 2006. The impact of supply chain management practices on competitive advantage and organizational performance. Elvsevier, 34(2), pp. 107-124. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omega.2004.08.002

Swathi Iyengar, L. H. G. F. &. S. H., 2016. Medicine shortages: a commentary on causes and mitigation strategies. BMC Medicine. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-016-0674-7

Tomasz Bochenek, P. H. T. C. C. R., 2019. Drug Shortages and Their Impact on Patients and Health Care Systems - How Can Systemic and Organizational Frameworks Help to Prevent or Mitigate Them?. Pharmaceutical Supply Chains - Medicines Shortages.

Vijay Govindarajan, R. R., 2018. Reverse innovation in health care: How to make value-based delivery work., s.l.: Harvard Business Press.

Vledder Monique, J. F. M. S. T. B. a. P. Y., 2019. Improving supply chain for essential drugs in low-income countries: results from a large scale randomized experiment in Zambia.. Health Systems & Reform,, Volume 5, pp. 158-177. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23288604.2019.1596050

Yadav, P., 2015. Health Product Supply Chains in Developing Countries: Diagnosis of the Root Causes of Underperformance and an Agenda for Reform. Health Systems & Reform. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4161/23288604.2014.968005

Young, T., 2006. Effects of micronutrient supplementation on morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected individuals - a summary of the evidence : scientific letter, Johansburg: Academy of Science for South Africa (ASSAf).

Downloads

Published

2025-07-01

How to Cite

Musonda, E., & Bupe Mutono-Mwanza , G. (2025). The Impact of Supply Chain Management Practices on Service Delivery: A Case of the Public Health Sector in Zambia. African Journal of Commercial Studies, 6(4), 15-21. https://doi.org/10.59413/ajocs/v6.i4.2

Article PlumX Metrics

PlumX Metrics