Managing supply chains to support laboratory services is a formidable challenge, especially in resource-limited settings. Laboratory services play a significant role in a country’s public health system and in the delivery of quality health services. Expanding programs for HIV & AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria require strong and supportive laboratory services. Laboratory capacity depends on the availability of equipment, reagents, and consumables required to perform these tests, which, in turn, hinge on effective supply chains for laboratory commodities. To ensure a continuous supply of commodities, laboratory systems are particularly challenged because of the large number of commodities that it must manage.
The USAID | DELIVER PROJECT and its predecessor projects have worked for more than 15 years with country governments, nongovernmental organizations, and the commercial sector to ensure that laboratory supplies and other essential commodities are available at service delivery points. From their experiences working in more than ten countries, project staff have developed expertise in eight core technical areas related to laboratory services. We strengthen both small- and large-scale operational and strategic functions for laboratory services and supply chain functions, balancing the need to immediately implement effective logistics systems with the long-term need to strengthen existing systems.
The project’s core expertise includes—
comprehensive assessments of laboratory services
designing/redesigning, implementing, and monitoring logistics systems (including logistics management information systems and inventory control systems)
standardizing laboratory tests, techniques, equipment, reagents, and supplies
selecting products and quantifying laboratory commodities
prioritizing commodities to be procured for budgeting and resource mobilization
improving general laboratory management practices
designing and conducting trainings in laboratory logistics
establishing central coordinating bodies for logistics decision making.
While the project’s core competency is in laboratory logistics, we also have expertise in improving laboratory services by catalyzing changes in policies, procedures, and infrastructure. Our execution of logistics incorporates policy development, treatment guidance, standardization of laboratory practices, provider training, administrative structures, and others. We combine technical assistance and capacity building to foster local solutions, promote a culture of excellence, and ensure a customer focus.
For a copy of the CD, Resources for Managing the HIV & AIDS and Laboratory Supply Chains, a set of references (92 documents) for supply chain and program managers and advisors involved in designing, implementing, and managing in-country supply chains for HIV & AIDS and laboratory commodities, send an email to askdeliver@jsi.com. Click on the link to the right, “Resources for Managing the Laboratory Supply Chain,” to access a selection of the documents.
To locate any USAID | DELIVER PROJECT publication; select Publications under the Resources tab of this web site.
