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 and AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria require strong and supportive laboratory services. Globally, there is recognition that these efforts will have a limited impact without laboratory capacity for diagnosis and monitoring. Laboratory capacity depends on the availability of reagents and consumables required to perform these tests, which in turn hinges on effective supply chains for laboratory commodities.
The USAID | DELIVER PROJECT and its predecessor projects have worked for more than twenty 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. Derived from their experiences of working in more than ten countries, project staff has expertise in six 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.
The project’s core expertise lies in—
Comprehensive assessment of laboratory services
Design/redesign, implementation, and monitoring of logistics systems (including Logistics Management Information Systems and Inventory Control Systems)
Standardization of laboratory tests, techniques, equipment, reagents, and supplies
Product selection and quantification of laboratory commodities
Prioritization of commodities to be procured for budgeting and resource mobilization
Improvement of general laboratory management practices
While the project’s core competency is in laboratory logistics, we also have expertise in improving laboratory services by catalyzing change in policies, procedures, and infrastructure. Our practice of logistics incorporates policy development, treatment guidance, standardization of laboratory practices, product selection, 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.
