Factors Influencing Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management Cycle at Kenya Red Cross Society

Abstract

Products and services requisition, Procurement, warehouse management and rational medicine use are all part of pharmaceutical supply chain management cycle. They are critical at all levels of health care organizations and facilities. Pharmaceutical supply chain management cycle is influenced by various factors which determine whether it’s efficient or not. These factors include but not limited to human resources, standard operating procedures, organizational culture and procurement planning. This study observes that failure to consider these factors may lead to procurement of sub-standard products and an inefficient pharmaceutical supply chain cycle. The specific objectives of this study are to determine the influence of human resources factor on pharmaceutical supply chain management cycle, examine the influence of standard operating procedures on pharmaceutical supply chain management cycle, establish how organizational culture influence pharmaceutical procurement supply chain management cycle and establish how procurement planning influence pharmaceutical procurement supply chain cycle. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Data was collected using a questionnaire with semi-structures questions. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics involved the use of frequencies, percentages and cross tabulations. Inferential statistics involved the use of chi-square test of significance and logistic regression. The chi square test was used to evaluate whether the observed frequencies in the data collected differed significantly from an expected frequency, while logistics regression was used in multivariate analysis to determine the most significant independent variable. The results of the analysis indicated that human resource, organizational culture, standard operating procedures and procurement planning factors influence the efficiency of pharmaceutical supply chain management cycle. The findings of the study also revealed that staffs are aware of KRCS policies and SOPs and that they have the required skills and capacity. The study concludes that the employees at KRCS always use the KRCS policies in the management of pharmaceutical supply chain management. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that , there should be periodic training of all staff engaged in procurement of pharmaceutical products, management should ensure that there are clear and documented standard operating procedures on procurement of pharmaceutical products, should adopt progressive organization structure with clear documentation on standard operating procedures and should maintain clear procurement plans. Finally, similar studies should be undertaken in other non-governmental organizations.