1. Improving Supply Chain for Achieving
Universal Health Coverage (UHC):
Experience from MEDS, Kenya
ACHAP 7TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE
Wednesday, 25th February 2015
Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi - Kenya
Paschal Manyuru, Managing Director, MEDS
A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED
2. 1. Share MEDS Experience in Improving Supply
Chain for Achieving UHC
2. Highlight Key Successes & Challenges in
Supply Chain in Kenya
Session Objectives
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
3. 1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS)
is a Faith Based, not-for-profit Trust of CHAK &
KCCB, established in 1986 due to:
Reduced Government support to Church Health Facilities in
the 1980s => thus affecting the supply chain.
Church Health Facilities faced several problems =>
pharmaceutical supply chain & training of health workers.
Increased distribution & logistical costs => dealing with very
many suppliers that have limited stocking holding/range
Poor prescribing & dispensing practices => poor patient care
and un-assured quality of medicines
Challenges provide Opportunities
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
4. MEDS Core functions
1. Supply chain: provision and distribution of reliable,
quality and affordable Essential Medicines,
medical/non-pharmaceuticals and clinical laboratory
Supplies
2. Capacity Building & Client Support Services: to
improve the quality of patient care through training,
mentorship field visits, capacity building and
professional assistance
3. Pharmaceutical Quality Control Laboratory services:
QC Laboratory that ensures stringent quality assurance
mechanism for quality products
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
5. a) Supply Chain & Distribution
Private & Faith Based
Organization (FBO) sector
meet over 40% of Kenya’s
health needs
MEDS serves over 2,000
corporate clients:
Faith Based
NGOs
Government
Private
Others – CBO, L/Institutions
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
6. Supply Chain & Distribution - 2
•MEDS clientele has grown beyond Kenyan borders
to the Countries highlighted in the Map
•Regional supply chain hub for African Countries
include: DRC, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia,
Malawi, Zimbabwe, Chad and Cameroon
Health Facilities Beyond Kenya
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
7. Supply Chain & Distribution - 3
Numbers per Facility Level in 2013 (n= 2,155)
18%
34%
48%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Hospitals (Level 4, 5 & 6)
Health Centres (Level 3)
Dispensaries (Level 2 & 1)
7A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
1,034 Dispensaries
733 Health Centers
388 hospitals
8. Supply Chain & Distribution - 4
Over 28 years experience in health service delivery
MEDS stocks over 1,000 items – reviewed annually
by a Formulary Committee => “PULL” System
Special shopping service for >3,000 non-stocked
items
One-stop shop for:
o Medicines, vaccines, disinfectants, infusions
o Laboratory reagents, kits & supplies
o Medical & surgical supplies
o Special (designated) Projects
o Publications
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
9. Fundamentals of MEDS Supply Chain
9A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
Quantification: Formulary committee for selection;
Medicines & Therapeutic committee for quantification
Procurement: Large quantities that attracts bulk discounts
without Government subsidies
Storage capacity: High and well organized warehousing
Distribution: Centralized and effective (door-to-door
delivery) = PULL
Quality Assurance: Good – backed with WHO pre-qualified
QC laboratory
Strategic Information: Continuous feedback from clients
and market players
Capacity Building and Client support – supply chain
function is supported by capacity building programmes and
field visits to clients
10. MEDS Experience: Evolution of MEDS Supply Chain
MEDS in the Past MEDS Today
Served FBOs only
Serves over 2,000 health facilities in Kenya and Africa; Faith
Based, NGOs, Government, Private, Community Based
Organizations, Learning Institutions
Low forecasting accuracy
High forecasting accuracy due to optimized and automated
processes and systems
Limited stocking levels
Demand driven, faster stock movement; Optimized stock
levels that balance efficiency and customer service
Rented warehouse space 10,000 square meters warehouse
Basic QC Laboratory Supply chain backed by WHO prequalified QC Laboratory
<20 members of staff Over 120 employees, with major services being outsourced
Few partnerships Many Partnerships
A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
11. MEDS State-of-the-art Warehouse
Spacious (10,000 m2 with 9m height of racking) and professionally-run
Ensures good storage and efficiency in processing orders
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
12. Officially opening of
the MEDS Centre
by His Excellency
the President on
13th March 2012
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
13. Efficiency, Reliability & Cost-effectiveness
Over the years, MEDS ensured:
100 % computerized stock holding
Over 98% fill rates to health facilities orders
Online ordering
Maximum 3-5 working days turn-around
time of clients’ orders
Doorstep delivery networks across the
country at no extra cost to clients
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
14. Efficiency, Reliability & Cost-effectiveness - 2
ISO 9001:2008 Certified with well functioning
Quality Management System
US-OFDA pre-qualified distributor
Supplying to 35 County Governments to date; over
USD 12m
Transparent, Accountable and Corrupt-free
organization guided by Christian & Professional
values
Partnership => the Government, Development
Partners and Manufacturers to improve on UHC
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
15. Efficiency, Reliability & Cost-effectiveness - 3
Clients have access to Customer Relationship
Management (CRM) solution – an online platform
that enables them to do the following:
Place orders by logging on to www.meds.or.ke and click on
“Self Service”
Track the status of their orders
Be informed on out of stock situations
Access statements of accounts
Chat with a Customer Care staff
Provides real-time information to clients on their requests
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
16. b) Capacity Building & Client Support
Training Products:
Annual training programme
Facility-based trainings
Consultancy services
Technical Assistance & Mentorship
Health facilities support services
Field visits to the sites by technical staff: > 1, 600 facilities are
visited annually
Special projects to build capacities of health facilities
Publications & pharmaceutical services
Partnerships with Public and other Stakeholder
Training frontline health workers => Public and Private
Consultancy services => other countries & health facilities
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
17. Capacity Building Session
Training County Government Pharmacists
A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
18. c) Pharmaceutical QC Laboratory Services
MEDS Quality Control
Laboratory
Achieved WHO pre-
qualification status on
30th March 2009
1st Faith based
laboratory
worldwide
1st Non-public QC
laboratory in Kenya
4th in Sub-Saharan
Africa (2 in South
Africa)
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
19. MEDS Story: QC Laboratory services
• Partnership with African
Countries to ensure
quality of
pharmaceuticals
Note: These African
Countries have
approached MEDS for
services due to WHO
pre-qualification status
19A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED
A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
20. MEDS Experience: Contributing to UHC
In summary, MEDS supply chain that has:
1. Reduced product costs => bulk procurement
2. Reduced ordering costs => One stop shop -
Clients
3. Increased availability/access of medicines &
medical supplies with a wide variety
4. Reduced prevalence of counterfeits
5. Promotion of rational use of medicines and
reduced medication errors due to training
initiatives
A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
21. 2.0 SUPPLY CHAIN IN KENYA
A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
2nd August 2013:
Launch of MEDS -
County Governments
Partnership Initiative
Saw over 50%
attendance by the
Counties - Ministers of
Health/ CECs
22. a) Successes
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives
MEDS playing a complementary role to the
government supply chain
Devolution of health services
EA Pooled Procurement Initiative
Partnership with County Governments:
August 2013: MEDS-County Governments
Partnership Initiative => supporting devolved govt.
April 2014: Conducted County Pharmacists workshop
=> Health Commodity Management & Leadership
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
23. b) Challenges (= Opportunities for FBO?)
Weak health systems and infrastructure
Health financing gaps => supply chain gaps
Affordability of Essential Medicines & Medical
Supplies => the poor & marginalized communities
Human Resources Capacity gaps => at County &
National Government levels
Limited Coordination & Consultations at County
& National level
A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
24. Challenges - 2
Unpredictable Purchasing Patterns & Suppliers’/
Manufacturers’ response capacity => Stock Outs
Free and liberal market => influx of sub-standard &
counterfeit products
Interpretation & Implementation of the Constitution
=> Confusion/inefficiency in the health sector
Debt Burden – Clients not paying => supply gaps
Politics at National & County Government level
Lack of Strategic Information => policy/decision-makers
A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
25. Receive greetings from MEDS family
A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
Please plan to visit MEDS while here! …….Welcome!
26. For more details please visit our website:
www.meds.or.ke
or email to
sahibu@africaonline.co.ke
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A World Class Medical Supply Chain and Support Organization of Choice since 1986
ISO 9001: 2008 CERTIFIED
Thank you