Country Overview

SCMS, the first of its kind in Guyana, is focused on information sharing, quantification, warehouse operations and management and capacity building as key areas of supply chain improvements as one of the key  national health systems strengthening efforts 

In Guyana, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among people between the ages of 20 and 44. This age group is the most affected, accounting for over 71% of all HIV cases in 2009 (MOH Statistics Unit). The Government of Guyana has placed a high emphasis on ensuring that those in need receive appropriate care and treatment by strengthening the National Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management System.

The country’s supply chain is largely centralized and managed by the Materials Management Unit (MMU) of the Ministry of Health (MOH). Efforts to build the capacity of the MMU and integrate its systems at all levels are key to completely consolidating not only the HIV/AIDS supply chain but for a sustainable national supply chain for all commodities and supplies for the MOH. The Guyana MOH’s 2020 HIV Vision is significant. Its goal is to lead the world in the elimination of HIV as a public health threat with focus for the next decade for an early attainment of genuine universal access to treatment, care and support. 

• Strengthen transparency and coordination among stakeholders.
• Create an enabling environment for management.
• Provide innovative warehouse management solutions, including support to the MMU to develop its performance management and evaluation as well as procurement capacity.
• Improve inventory and control systems and logistics management information systems at all five levels of health care in the country.
• Help to develop capacity in rolling forecasts and supply plans.
• Provide an efficient enabling platform for LMIS to be fully aligned with overarching MOH MIS strategy
• Select and use high quality, cost-effective, rational drugs and adherence to all applicable standards, guidelines and policies

  
  

  
  

  Activities and Impact

  
  Value of commodities delivered as of December 2009: $3.3 million

  
  Inventory Control:  SCMS continues to support the operations management of the Annex warehouse with an ongoing full time transfer of skills by SCMS technical staff co-locating and jointly managing operations of the MMU.  SCMS had established a WMS where ordering, receiving and updating records form part of the inventory tracking system in place with use of barcoding systems and RF scanners. 

  
  

  Facility level inventory management assessment: SCMS visited 110 health facilities in all ten regions of Guyana to conduct a facility inventory management assessment to strengthen facility-level inventory management and reporting.  This will help maintain alignment with the standards achieved at the central level MMU warehouse in order to ensure health commodity availability at all 360 health facilities in country

  
  

  Performance Management: SCMS has developed an internal performance management strategic framework to facilitate the aggregation of M&E data from the field level to the overall project level. Using this framework, SCMS provides support and assistance to the MMU to integrate and develop their own performance management plan.  Establishing key performance indicators and benchmarks for performance metrics help support the continued improvement of the MMU and also forms the basis for a sustainable monitoring and evaluation plan that the MOH can utilize over the long term.

  
  

  Warehousing and Storage: SCMS provides technical support and supervision of  the state-of-the-art warehousing facility for all pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in a one fit-for-purpose facility. The completion of the warehouse is scheduled for January 2011 and  concurrent planning of MMU operations and personnel follows. 
  

  
  

  Forecasting and demand planning: SCMS helped develop national level forecasting and supply planning of ARVs, RTKs, lab reagents and test kits for blood safety to ensure accuracy in supply plans. SCMS trained personnel from the MOH programs to take the lead on on this effort at both the national/programmatic levels.