A successful health care program delivers consistent, high-quality, cost-effective services. Often, when a program is being designed, an essential component is often overlooked—the logistics system. A carefully planned, well-functioning logistics system can ensure a dependable supply of health care products for the clients who need them. When a health facility is fully stocked with a wide range of contraceptive methods and essential drugs, clients gain confidence in that facility and they are more likely to return.

For example, if women were given reliable access to the full range of contraceptives, it is possible to prevent one of every four deaths related to pregnancy in the developing world. Women without reliable access to reproductive health care and commodities face an increased risk of birth complications, unintended or mistimed pregnancies, unsafe abortions, infectious diseases, and even death.

Commodities for HIV/AIDS and malaria treatment are two examples of how efficient logistics systems can save lives. A dependable supply of HIV/AIDS commodities at service delivery points determines the success of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment programs; supply interruptions introduce the risk of drug resistance, which can develop when HIV replication is not fully suppressed. In the case of malaria, drugs must be given soon after the onset of malaria-caused fever. If the appropriate drugs are available, many lives can be saved.

Even though it is behind-the-scenes, a strong logistics system will help create a successful health program on many levels. For example, a weak logistics system can cause stockouts of critical products, leaving clients underserved, or a facility may be overstocked with expired products—a waste of scarce resources. The danger is that a logistics system’s crucial functions can go unnoticed by policymakers and program managers until the system fails to deliver.

A reliable, responsive logistics system makes the difference between a client consistently receiving the product he or she needs—condoms, vaccines, and other drugs—or a client walking away empty-handed. The success of your health care program depends on the strength of your system.