Success Strategies for Efficient Healthcare Supply Chain Management: The Experiences of Tertiary Hospitals in South-South Nigeria

Abstract

Access to improved healthcare, shortage of life-saving commodities and the increased costs of handling medical stocks remain the major operational problems of public hospitals in less-developed countries. A key challenge for mitigating these problems is how to make the management of hospital commodity supplies more efficient. Using the mixed methods design, this study explores the success strategies for efficient healthcare supply chain management in South-South Nigeria. Two hundred and forty-four (244) randomly-selected procurement, central stores, and audit unit officers; working in six tertiary hospitals constituted the study participants. Relevant qualitative and quantitative data were gathered and analysed for the study. Results shows that success in efficiency of managing medical supply chain is significantly influenced by important strategies, namely: flexible procurement, logistics out sourcing, good stock management, and supplier selection attributes. The study highlights some policy implications.