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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Health Reporter
In a major move aimed at streamlining operations and enhancing accountability, the National Pharmaceuticals Company (NatPharm) has completed the implementation of a modern enterprise resource management system which seeks to improve the management of vital medicines in the country.
Implementation of the system, Microsoft Business 365, started in 2022 with support from USAID to close the gaps that were identified in the medical commodity supply chain.
NatPharm procures medicines and medical supplies for all public health institutions and mission hospitals in Zimbabwe and has six warehouses in Harare, Bulawayo, Chinhoyi, Gweru, Masvingo and Mutare.
However, owing to an outdated financial and inventory system, the organisation was experiencing challenges that included drug leakages, stock outs as well as expiry of medicines before they were dispensed.
Speaking during a handover of warehouse equipment to Natpharm by USAID yesterday, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Kwidini said the automation of all systems at the warehouses would improve service delivery while plugging leaks of medicines experienced in the past.
“We continue to look for ways to optimise automation in all NatPharm warehouses using both resources from our Government and development partners in our quest to contribute to the attainment of Vision 2030 of an upper middle-income economy,” he said.
“This is in line with modern technology. We need to make sure that all medicines are tracked from where they are to where they are supposed to go so that there are no loopholes and we don’t lose medicines. This will help to manage systems in the health sector and we can ensure that every person who is intended to receive medicine does. This way no one and no place is going to be left behind.”
To set up the system, NatPharm procured all the necessary hardware and supporting software while USAID funded the engagement of the consultants and training for the staff. The system is cloud based and can even be remotely accessed from different platforms, including mobile phones, tablets and laptops.
During a demonstration of how the new ERM system works, NatPharm ICT manager Engineer Tichaona Nyovhi said the new system went live in the first quarter of this year and was now fully operational.
“With the new application, we are experiencing improved product visibility where stakeholders have a 360-degree view of NatPharm inventory. It is now easy to tell where we can get a certain commodity, the shelf life of that commodity and where we can take it. In the past, it was difficult to deal with issues of expiry dates but by embracing technology, we can see the shelf life of all commodities and this can enhance decision making,” he said.
Besides visibility, he said the system had improved inventory management and accountability to the last mile as a result of reduced stock variances.
“We also have ongoing developments to flesh-up the system so we are implementing a barcoding system to reduce human intervention and by doing so-doing, we also reduce the margin of error and bring in efficiency. Once these processes are in place we can be in a position to account for every commodity that comes into the country and into the Natpharm warehouse up to the person who received the commodity. We can eliminate pilferage wherever it exists and ensure that commodities are put to good use,” said Eng Nyovhi.
He said there were also plans to integrate the Business 365 ERM system with the electronic logistics management information system which is used by the hospitals and clinics to place their orders.
This is expected to allow orders from facilities to be pushed from the logistics system to the ERM system and once those orders are fulfilled, response is sent to the facility through the logistics system thus increasing transparency within the supply chain system.
During the handover, NatPharm also received warehouse equipment worth US$500 000, including pallet jacks, stackers, forklifts among others.
The donation is expected to go a long way in improving efficiencies in the moving of commodities in, within and out of warehouses thus reducing the time spent handling products using manual methods.
The United States has been instrumental in the provision of medicines through the Global Fund and since 2016. Zimbabwe has received US$336 000 worth of commodities that include life-saving antiretroviral drugs, condoms, rapid HIV and malaria test kits, mosquito nets, other medicines and laboratory supplies.
USAID mission director Ms Jenean Davis said the organisation supported NatPharm’s mission to provide equitable access to quality and affordable medicines and services.
“I am pleased to participate in the formal handover of essential working tools from USAID to the NatPharm warehouses. These are essential warehouse handling equipment that will allow it to protect the health commodities and ease the workload on its workers.
“This investment will contribute to reducing the amount of time required to get medicines out to health facility shelves,” she said.
The United States was committed to continue its collaboration and meaningful partnerships with Zimbabwe to ensure that medicines were available at all times.
“The goal is to make sure that we can provide effective delivery of health commodities but really to support the overall goal of health impact because at the end of the day is to reach those who need those commodities,” Ms Davis said.
NatPharm board chairperson Ms Ruth Kaseke said a positive impact had been noted with the coming in of the new equipment.
She said some of the equipment would be sent to the warehouse in Masvingo with the hope that the five remaining warehouses would also receive similar equipment soon to reduce turnaround time of processing orders.
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