An Assessment on Logistics Practice of Laboratory Commodities: The Case of St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The inefficient logistics can cause a stock out of critical and essential products, leaving clients underserved and which adversely affect the patients particularly and widely the health sector. To secure laboratory commodities at health facilities, all elements of the logistics cycle have equal importance. Assessing a part lonely will not address the logistics challenges at all. This study aims to assess the logistics practice of laboratory commodities in the perspective of logistics elements. A descriptive, cross-sectional study design with mixed research approaches, qualitative, and quantitative is employed in data collection and analysis. Nine interviews, twenty-nine questionnaires were responded, and ninety-four LC were assessed at SPHMMC. The finding indicates that good customer service and relation management practiced but above half of the test menu were stock out. No guideline and involvement of laboratory case teams head for product selection and quantification. Almost half, 54 (57.4%), of line of commodities quantified from expected, 20 (37%) commodities were received till 11th month of the budget year, 11(35.5%) received despite not quantified, no involvement of stakeholders during quantification, limited skills, and knowledge in each laboratory commodities logistics cycle. Above 80% of commodities stocked below min or max level, of this 56.8 % (29) were above max. No proper implementation of IPLS, no IFRR and weak stock keeping recording practice, RRF generated for 40 (42.6%) line of commodities, from 54 availed items 40 (74.1%) were set min-max, and 18 (45%) were updated. There was storage space constraint. As a result testing units, mini store, and a main sore stock max level of a week, ½ month, and two months respectively, good storage practice is observed in mini store 11(73%) compared to main store (33%).Quality assurance scheme was not guideline and SOP-based intervention in the logistics cycle. Quality control approach was different when it was received from EPSA and private suppliers. The sample tested when it was received from a private supplier only. Generally, on the grand average mode of all respondents of the questionnaire were almost agreed in each logistics cycle for all issues raised with limited standard deviation. Customer service means 4±0.844, Product selection 3.7±0.99, Quantification 4±0.84, Procurement 3.85±0.90, Inventory management 4±0.91, storage and transportation 4±0.93, and LMIS 4±1.01. In conclusion, poor inventory management practice, weak LMIS implementation, no standardized product selection and quantification, and long procurement, and weak storage practices. It is proposed that professional development on each logistics cycle, the involvement of laboratory professionals and other stakeholders during quantification and product selection, maintaining min-max, proper implementation of LMIS, developing and or adopting guidelines and SOPs related to the logistics cycle and adhering the guidance will improve logistics practices.
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Laboratory Commodities Logistics, Customer service, Product selection, Quantification, Inventory management