Supply chain information management and service delivery in public health sector organizations a case study of national medical stores

Abstract

This study intended to examine the relationship between supply chain information management and service delivery efficiency in public health sector organizations. The four objectives of the study were to: examine the relationship between supply chain information processing and service delivery; assess the relationship between supply chain information storage and service delivery; evaluate the relationship between supply chain information flow and service delivery; and lastly, examine the relationship between supply chain information management and service delivery. The researcher employed a descriptive, case study and correlational designs. Using a researcher's made questionnaire, data was collected from a sample of 56 respondents from National Medical Stores (NMS) and 63 respondents from Mulago Hospital and Kisenyi Health Centre IV. Data analysis was done using frequencies, percentages, means, standard Deviation (SD) and the Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) analysis. Findings revealed that, the level of supply chain information storage was highest at average mean of 4.06, followed by the level of supply chain information processing at an average mean of 3.95, and lastly, supply chain information flow at an average mean of 3.91. The overall mean of supply chain information management constructs therefore came to 3.97, interpreted as high. On the other hand, service delivery management indicated an overall mean of 2.94, interpreted as undecided. Of its constructs, quality service delivery management ranked highest at an average mean of 3.81, followed by cost management in service delivery at an average mean of 3.65, and lastly, timely service delivery management at an average mean of 1.94. With this therefore, the relationship between supply chain information management and service delivery was indicated to be positive and significant at (r = 0.244, Sig. = 0.02). This implied that the alternative hypothesis of the study was accepted, and the researcher concluded that efficient supply chain information management positively affects service delivery. It was recommended that; NMS create an environment that encourage health centres and Hospitals to easily make requisitions whenever there is a need of drugs, there is need for more supply chain professionals at NMS to bridge the gap that exist between operations work and prevailing numbers of staff, there is need to invest in Information Communication Technologies (ICT) to boast inter-organizational relationship and information flow between NMS, Hospitals and health centres throughout the country.