Health facilities in Uganda continue to experience stock-outs of essential supplies, which limits people’s ability to access quality health services. This was further worsened by the outbreak of the Covid-19 in early 2020.
However, to address this particular challenge, UNFPA has launched a digital tracking system to track contraceptive supplies in Bukedea and four other districts in eastern and northern Uganda to avoid stock-outs and waste.
DrugDash is a mobile app and web tool that generates and shares information on supplies across health facilities in real-time, eliminating frequent errors under the previous, laborious system of record-keeping on paper.
With the latest numbers at their fingertips on a tablet, people can make more accurate and timely decisions about how to redistribute contraceptives.
“With DrugDash, I can see where there is a need even before [health facilities] communicate it to us. That used to not happen,” explains Ezera Bamulikulwaki, who supervises medicine supplies for Bulambuli District. “It has helped managers in monitoring their stock and taking action based on the data.”
The system was the result of a UNFPA Innovation Fund-sponsored global innovation challenge to ensure rights and choices, part of an organization-wide drive to deliver better services and end unmet need for family planning with a goal to “Solve issues that prevent a consistent supply of contraceptives from reaching outlying areas.”
Initially, DrugDash was rolled out in 56 facilities in the five districts.
Within a few months, 80 percent had reported improvements in ordering and distributing family planning supplies.
Nearly 60 percent had avoided stock-outs or expired supplies.
Better supplies of barrier methods like condoms spurred a 37 percent increase in use in six months.
The system, according to UNFPA, will eventually be expanded to track other reproductive health commodities like maternal health medicines.
Uganda’s Health Supply Chain Solutions
Relatedly, three winners of the Health Supply Chain Solutions Challenge were named days ago during Uganda’s National Health Supply Chain Week. The winners were selected from a pool of more than 130 concepts presented to the competition’s judges. The Challenge, which called for bold new ideas to strengthen Uganda’s supply chain and improve access to medicines, was an initiative of Management Sciences for Health (MSH) under the USAID Uganda Strengthening Supply Chain Systems (SSCS) Activity and partners.
But despite recent progress, health facilities in Uganda continue to experience stock-outs of essential medicines, which limits people’s ability to access quality health services. The COVID-19 pandemic has further strained the country’s national health supply chain, including medicines, vaccines, and other essential supplies.
Speaking during the pitch event, Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the Uganda Ministry of Health’s Director General for Health Services, said, “The government of Uganda, through the President, is committed to playing a critical role in growing and sustaining innovations. An example is the efforts that have supported innovations to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Dr. Mwebesa highlighted the importance of sustainability and said that the Ministry of Health would integrate the innovations within its existing programs.
Challenge winners will work with a team of subject matter experts to develop, pilot, and ultimately scale up their innovations. Each winner received a share of USD 50,000 worth of technical and financial support.
Trackmed uses a new type of data encryption to trace medicines throughout the supply chain— from the central warehouse all the way to the patient—while providing real-time data on delivery and use of medical supplies.
SIGNALYTIC offers integrated technologies to digitize medicine inventory information and network system users. The novel platform displays inventory data across health facilities and is solar powered with uninterrupted power provisions.
BioGenics manufactures KN95 and three-ply face masks using machines made with locally sourced materials.
The Challenge was launched by Management Sciences for Health, Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment, and Uganda Healthcare Federation under the USAID/Uganda Strengthening Supply Chain Systems (SSCS) Activity in conjunction with the United Nations Population Fund (Uganda) and Outbox Hub.