Streamlined logistic systems for health commodities, at all tiers of management, form the backbone of any sound and effective public health system. Until recently, Department of Health and Population Welfare Department, Government of Sindh were following outdated logistics practices resulting into frequent stock outs and increased unmet needs. In collaboration with USAID funded, USAID I DELIVER PROJECT, both the departments, over last five years have transitioned and adopted to international best practices for forecasting, quantification, procurement and distribution of health commodities with particular focus on contraceptives and vaccines, for Expanded Program on Immunization. These improved logistics functions are, besides others, mainly the outcome of implementation of web based Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) www.lmis.gov.pk which provides transparent data visibility of vaccines and contraceptives at various levels of service delivery, throughout the province. Introduction of LMIS for reproductive health commodities and vaccines at district and sub district level have completely diverted the timeworn behavior of manual reporting of field staff into automated system enabling the senior management to monitor last mile data on click of a button. For monitoring logistics data and it’s utilization, Logistics and Procurement Cells have been established in these departments with the support of USAID where designated government officials perform their duties as per terms of reference. All districts and towns are reporting into LMIS through a fleet of 3826 public sector workforce, trained by the Project utilizing USAID donated IT hardware equipment distrusted among DOH, PWD and EPIthroughout the province. The Project has also procured and donated on behalf of USAID contraceptives worth $23m to the health and population departments of Sindh in last five. This commodity support alone has generated 5.4 million CYPs (couple years protection) and claimed aversion of an estimated ~1619 maternal and ~39837 infants deaths in the period between 2010-2015.
The Project in collaboration with both the departments has developed various manuals which respond to specific requirements of Government of Sindh. These manuals include “Essential Medicines Lists” for primary and secondary level health facilities, “Procurement Manual for Medicines and Supplies”, “Contraceptive Procurement Manual” endorsed by Sindh PPRA, “Standard Prequalification and Bidding Documents”for international procurement and “Integrated Contraceptive Logistics Manual”. The WHO and Sindh PPRA have endorsed the Essential Medicines List and procurement manuals respectively. As a result of these capacity building measures, both health and population welfare departments have securedpublic sector financing of Rs. 5.6 billion for next five years to meet provincial contraceptive needs and have jointly initiated process for international procurement.
While talking to the participants during ceremony, organized by the USAID | DELIVER PROJECT at a local hotel today for handing over these Manuals, the Secretary Health Mr. Saeed Ahmad Mangnejo said that the department is highly grateful to the USAID for the marvelous technical and financial support they have provided to the department during the last five years through the DELIVER project for sustainable strengthening logistics and supply chain management system of the province of Sindh.
The ceremony was co-chaired by both Secretaries Health and Population Welfare Departments and attended by senior officials of both departments, representatives from international donor agencies, development partners and private sector. At this moment, Mr. Muhammad Saleem Raza, Secretary Population Welfare Department thanked and acknowledged USAID supportfor massive logistics reforms through implementation of LMIS, commodity support and capacity building of the officials of respective departments and for providing technical assistance for developing these invaluable manuals which will remain asustainable source of guidance for the procurement, storage and distribution of health commodities, ensuring stocks availability at primary and secondary level healthcare facilities across the province. It was committed by both the departments that these manuals and publications will be used in letter and spirit at all levels of the supply chain for ensuring quality medicines and contraceptives for the general public of the province.
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