Healthcare Supply Chain
Healthcare Supply Chain management involves obtaining resources, managing supplies, and delivering goods and services to providers and patients.
Senselet Ethiopia Project
Senselet aims to enhance academic, institutional, and humanitarian response capacities to improve the functioning of the healthcare supply chain management (HSCM) system and improve health outcomes for patients with a focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs)* in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian public HSCM involves multiple interconnected actors and processes. As shown in the figure below, health commodities flow from international and domestic suppliers (upstream) to the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS), which serves as the central agency responsible for procurement, warehousing, and nationwide distribution (midstream). From there, commodities are distributed through regional branches to reach public health facilities (downstream).
EPSS operates 19 regional branches strategically positioned across Ethiopia, serving as the key logistical hubs that link central warehouses to thousands of healthcare facilities (downstream). These branches facilitate last-mile delivery, maintain inventory control, and ensure a consistent supply of essential medicines and medical products to health facilities throughout the country.
The Senselet project focuses on enhancing long-term capacity and strengthening the healthcare supply chain system through various educational and professional development programs. These encompass a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program aimed at improving the skills of current healthcare and logistics professionals; Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs designed to equip a skilled workforce for operational roles within the supply chain; and a Master’s program in Healthcare Supply Chain Management (HSCM) that focuses on cultivating advanced managerial and analytical skills. Collectively, these educational avenues foster a sustainable enhancement of Ethiopia’s HSCM system by empowering professionals, encouraging innovation, and strengthening institutional resilience.
Project funding
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