Nepal

USAID's Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project is working in Nepal to reinforce the country’s National Health Policy and the National Health Sector Strategy 2015–2020, which seeks to reduce health commodity stockouts and strengthen health systems, infrastructure, human resource management, procurement and supply chain management, and health information management.

Our goal is to support Nepali government institutions to easily access and use data for decisions to improve the health of all Nepali citizens. With Nepal’s Logistics Management Division (LMD), the project focuses on enhancing supply chain performance and professionalism with better forecasting and quantification accuracy.

Currently, the project is piloting an electronic logistics management information system (eLMIS). The cellular data-based eLMIS enables accurate and near real-time monitoring of commodity demand and flow. Access to these data, combined with GHSC-PSM assistance to improve forecasting and quantification methodologies and practices, positions the LMD for more accurate supply planning and procurement.

• albendazole
• amoxicillin
• chlorhexidine
• ciprofloxacin
• clotrimazole
• condoms
• gentamycin injection
• iron supplement
• isoniazide/rifampicin/pyrazinamide/ethambutol (RHZE) combination pack
• metronidazole
• oral rehydration salts
• oxytocin
• paracetamol
• povidone iodine
• salbutamol zinc sulphate
• vitamin A supplement

Key activities in Nepal include:

• Support LMD capacity to develop and implement long-term strategies for achieving sustainable supply chain improvements
• Draft a forecasting guidebook based on international best practices
• Building on local-level procurement guidelines, provide additional training and support to improve both sourcing of quality-assured maternal and child health and family planning commodities at the district level, and commodity storage capacity and quality
• Support workforce development of medical warehouse and store staff
• Develop a tool to measure supply chain performance, and monitor and report performance changes

GHSC-PSM provides ongoing engagement and support to the government of Nepal in offering supply chain and logistics training to pharmacists working with district health offices.