Carlijn Spijker’s Post

Thank you to Carlijn Spijker, who has just completed her thesis project with NCDconnect & IDA Foundation! The project focused on the maturity of antidiabetic #supplychains in six countries. This project has been both challenging and rewarding, offering valuable insights into the complexities of global healthcare logistics! 🔍 Methodology: The research employed an abductive, exploratory approach, combining existing literature and best practices with new qualitative data. This dual approach was first used to develop a tailored antidiabetic maturity model and then to assess the six focus countries. 📊 Maturity Levels: The assessment revealed varying maturity levels across the countries studied. Mali and Mozambique were at level 1 (ad hoc), indicating the need for foundational improvements. Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, and Uganda were at level 2 (defined), showing more structured processes but still with room for growth. Tanzania reached level 3 (linked), demonstrating more advanced and interconnected supply chain practices. Do you agree with these findings? Leave a comment with your discussion & thoughts! 🔑 Key Finding: The most critical need across all focus countries is to enhance forecasting structures and improve data quality. Accurate and representative data is essential for effective planning and forecasting, which in turn helps prevent both overstocking and understocking of antidiabetic medications and reduces costs. This project has provided a broad overview and a critical starting point for understanding the maturity of antidiabetic supply chains. From here, structured approaches can be undertaken to bridge the gaps and enhance access to diabetes care. #NCDconnect #ProcurementInnovation #SupplyChain #LastMile #Diabetes #Medicines #Diagnostics #Coldchain #GlobalHealth

Why Would they reject such a good research 😭 ? Last year, I had the privilege of being mentored by Professor Biemba during a two-week Health and Medicine Innovations Boot Camp organized by the Directorate of Natural Sciences. This experience allowed me to gain a clear vision and set goals for myself. My primary objective was to fully comprehend the process that drugs undergo to reach the market. It is important to acknowledge that the pharmaceutical industry is both highly profitable and capital-intensive. Unfortunately, innovative ideas in Zambia have consistently failed to make it to the global or local market, which is a disheartening reality. However, if even one or two health and medicine innovations are approved through biochemical and therapeutics analysis, it would result in increased employment opportunities throughout the value chain. According to Professor Biemba, the main challenge faced by this sector is inadequate research. While we have brilliant and knowledgeable researchers, their findings often lack validation due to the unavailability of data. Much of the valuable information has been lost within the outdated paper-based system. Just yesterday, a friend's defense on Tuberculosis was rejected due to inaccuracies in the facts presented. Fortunately, with the implementation of the Electronic Health Records system, facilities are now able to track various conditions. For instance, in the month of January alone, I personally interacted with over 1000 clients for different reasons. This not only fills me with pride but also ensures that I am contributing positively to the field, as I have access to accurate data. I firmly believe that a time will come when we can present our own validated facts. The IHM smartcare system, in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Zambia 🇿🇲 , is at the forefront of making this a reality. By enabling the collection of precise data, this system will revolutionize the way we approach health research and ultimately improve healthcare outcomes for all. #DigitalHealth #GlobalHealth #IHM #WHO #Africa #Europehealth #NHS #Health

Together with our partners and stakeholders United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), SIGNALYTIC and the Government of Uganda’s Ministry of Health, Medical Access designed a solution to digitalize the stock management of essential drugs and medical supplies at lower-level health centers in Uganda. The S+ Solution offers a more cost-efficient, simpler, and faster approach to attain supply chain visibility and robust stock management practices by leveraging solar power, distributed ledger technology and system interoperability. We take immense pride in how this project complemented the Ministry of Health's efforts to improve access to essential medicines at lower-level health centers in Uganda. Read the case study to learn how we did it: https://lnkd.in/giJNdtUH   #digitalhealth #supplychainmanagement #digitalsupplychain #logistics #stockmanagement #uganda #africa

INTRODUCTION TO DRUG REVOLVING FUND SCHEME The concept of DRF was introduced through the Bamako Initiative to be one of the ways of dealings with problems and challenges in ensuring availability of medicines and a strategic opportunity for sustainable financing of drug supply at the local level. In most African countries including Nigeria, access to healthcare is inadequate and suboptimal , leading to increased deaths and disease from preventatble diseases.These issues have prompted innovations and initiatives in the design, planning financing and overall management of healthcare provision and delivery one of such initiatives at improving drug supply is the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) . Issues that Continue to Plaque Health Systems Across Africa * Drug stockout * Bad management * Poor funding * Absence to health-promoting amenities in communities . See you next week .

Have you ever wondered: what does it actually take to move a pack of medicines from a factory in India to the shelves of a mom-and-pop pharmacy in Zambia? Today on the Africa Health Ventures #podcast, we explore the world of the medicine #supplychain in #Africa, as told by the people who run it. Along the way, we unpack the market dynamics which limit access to low-cost, essential medicines. We cover: 💊 Why big pharma struggles to operate in all 54 African countries 🚚 The two major structural problems with the distributor market that limit access to low-cost essential medicines 💸 The working capital gap that prevents small pharmacies from making the full range of essential medicines available to their clients 💡 The role of embedded financing in increasing product availability Today we hear from: Yusuf Rasool, Director of Global Market Access at MSD/Merck Clinton De Souza, former Director of Public Health for IMPERIAL Logistics International B.V. & Co. KG (now DP World), Managing Partner at Celsian Consulting LLC Michael Moreland, CEO and Founder, Field Intelligence Inc. Prashant Yadav, Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development, Affiliate Professor at INSEAD and Lecturer at Harvard Medical School Tune in wherever you get your podcasts: https://lnkd.in/dYud_h4T What did we miss? What other resources and organizations help us to understand the medicine supply chain in Africa? Let us know in the comments below. p.s. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this episode where we hear from The Global Fund and USAID about the radical differences in donor-funded supply chains; the major trends that will disrupt this market in the next 10 years; and highlight a few of the #socialentrepreneurs that are leading the charge for change.

HealthCare Middle East & Africa Magazine Issue 11 is Out! In this issue, we bring you the latest news and innovations from around Africa and the world. Dive in to discover key players in the healthcare space. Here's a glimpse of what awaits you: #CompanyFeature: Unveiling Medland Hospital’s five-year journey in delivering quality healthcare in Zambia. #Top10: Largest Hospitals in the Middle East. Learn about the region's largest hospitals in terms of bed capacity. #AssociationFocus: We bring you the role of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Professionals Society of Kenya. #TopicalFocus: The rise and adoption of complementary and alternative medicine worldwide. #DiseaseFocus: Discover the steps taken in managing hashtag #malaria in Africa. #Country Focus: Morocco’s dream of achieving universal healthcare coverage. We unpack the role of the government and the private sector in ensuring quality healthcare in North Africa. Get these stories and many more innovations and the latest news in the sector across the continent. Get the Flipbook digital edition via this LINK https://lnkd.in/d5ntk65f #HealthCareMEA #Innovation #Hospitals #HealthScience #AIinhealthcare #MedlandHospital #medicalresearch #CAM #BBPSK #Healthcare #Regulatory #Policies #Malaria #Morocco

Exploring Healthcare in Africa: A Journey Begins 🌍 Africa, a continent known for its rich cultural diversity and breathtaking landscapes, is also home to a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. As we embark on our journey into the world of healthcare in Africa, I am thrilled to share our insights from two remarkable books, "Making Medicines in Africa" and "The Political Economy of Industrializing for Local Health." Join me in this exciting exploration of healthcare on the African continent on my newsletter 300 words ( https://lnkd.in/dzWYATtB ) 1. Unveiling "Making Medicines in Africa" 🏥 "Making Medicines in Africa," penned by Maureen Mackintosh and a team of experts, takes us on a captivating voyage into the pharmaceutical industry in Africa. This insightful book delves deep into the challenges and opportunities surrounding the local production of medicines on the continent. 2. The Pharmaceutical Landscape in Africa 🌿 "Making Medicines in Africa" uncovers a promising shift in this narrative. With a growing emphasis on local production, African nations are actively working towards self-sufficiency in #pharmaceuticals, ensuring greater access to essential medicines for their populations. This section of our journey will explore the strategies employed by African countries to bolster their pharmaceutical industries. 3. Exploring "The Political Economy of Industrializing for Local Health" 🌐 "The Political Economy of Industrializing for Local Health," authored by David B. Eggleton, provides a comprehensive analysis of the intricate relationship between politics, economics, and healthcare in Africa. 4. A Holistic Approach to Healthcare 🤝 Eggleton's work sheds light on the interconnectedness of various sectors within the healthcare system and their profound impact on local health outcomes. From examining the role of government policies in shaping healthcare infrastructure to understanding the influence of international aid. Stay Tuned for Engaging Insights! 📢 My journey into the world of healthcare in #Africa promises to be an enlightening experience. Over the course of this exploration, I will share regular updates and thought-provoking insights from these two remarkable books, "Making Medicines in Africa" and "The Political Economy of Industrializing for Local Health." Follow me on this exciting adventure as we explore the path towards better healthcare access, local pharmaceutical production, and improved health outcomes for millions of people across the continent. Don't miss out on my upcoming posts! 🌟 #HealthcareAfrica #MedicineProduction #AfricanHealth #HealthcareJourney #LocalHealthcare

Bloom Public Health warmly celebrates all #pharmacists and #pharmacyprofessionals for their immense contribution to improving the health of all populations globally. The #theme for this year's #WorldPharmacistsDay is "Pharmacy Strengthening Health Systems." According to the World Health Organization, there are six health system building blocks that cut across health service delivery, human resources for health, the health information system, access to essential medicines, commodities, and technology, leadership and governance, and health financing. Bloom Public Health contributes to strengthening the health systems through the following interventions. ➡️Increasing access to essential medicines through the The World Bank-funded #IMPACTproject, the #Pharmacity project, and supply chain projects such as the #DrugRevolvingFund project. The end goal of these projects is to increase access to #affordable, #quality, and #efficacious essential medicines whose #sustainability is assured, thereby promoting universal health coverage. (#UHC) ➡️Building the capacities of human resources for health through training to advance their skills and accreditation assistance to meet international standards. For example, the #SON, #KATCHEY Laboratory, #NNMDA projects, and others are in the pipeline. ➡️Advocating for stronger leadership and governance in health care through strategic partnerships and collaborations with the governments of nations within Africa and beyond the continent of #Africa. For example, the governments of Indonesia, Pakistan, Cameroon, Rwanda, Botswana, Nigeria, amongst others. ➡️Promoting healthy lifestyles and public health information through research on our social media platforms and print media publications. ➡️Advocating for increased funding for health systems strengthening in Africa through partnerships with bilateral, multilateral organizations and governments. We are committed to doing even more. 📸📸 :Amazing Pharmacists in the #BloomTeam #WorldPharmacistsDay2023 #healthsystem #WHOHealthSystemBuildingBlocks #healthsystemstrengthening #partnerships #healthforall #universalhealthcoverage #pharmacists #pharmacyprofessionals #BloomPublicHealth #BloomPharmacists #Africa #Nigeria #Rwanda #Botswana #Cameroon

Today, the CEO of Bloom Public Health, Professor Chimezie Anyakora, paid an advocacy visit to Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited, in furtherance of the #WHOPQ project, otherwise known as the #IMPACTproject. Key stakeholders present during this visit were Dr. Godwin ntadom, National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Program (#NMEP); Onoriode Erize, Senior Health Specialist, The World Bank; Pharm. Abbas Sani Sambo, Commercial Director, #SWIPHA; Dr. Abubakar Adamu, Director, Permanent Secretary Office, #FMOH; Dr. Bala Audu, Director Strategic Partnerships, Bloom Public Health; Philip Okoko, Program Manager, #IMPACTproject; Dr. Ugochi, Bloom Public Health; Chinedu Anokwulu, Marketing Access Manager, #SWIPHA; Tunde Balaja, Quality Manager, #SWIPHA and others. The #IMPACTproject is intended to build the capacities of five selected local #pharmaceuticalmanufacturers in #Nigeria, providing them with the necessary technical assistance to achieve World Health Organization pre-qualification of their #antimalarials. Attaining #WHOPQ is a very rigorous process, and Bloom Public Health, in partnership with #NIPRD, seeks to see the capacities of local pharmaceutical manufacturers built to a level where they can confidently compete with their international counterparts in the global drug market, knowing that they operate within the parameters of global standards. #IMPACTproject #WHOPQ #pharmaceuticalmanufacturers #capacitybuilding #essentialmedicines #antimalarials #accessibility #affordability #qualitymedicines #sustainability #UHC #WorldBank #BloomPublicHealth #NIPRD #partnerships #Africa #Nigeria

Earlier today I had the honor to participate as a panelist at the Smart standards based digital transformation symposium in Cape Town, South Africa. Based on experiences from our respective countries, I and colleagues from Ministry Of Health Malawi, Ministry of Health, Kenya and Ministry of Health of Zambia deliberated on key enablers to fast-track interoperability standards-based digital health and the role of donors / development partners in the successful adoption of interoperability standards including Smart Guidelines. I shared about how having the right governance structures, legislation, standards and skilled human resource in place could leap frog the desire to have interoperable digital solutions. Relatedly, I did highlight the key challenges of having disparate systems and how interoperability can address the challenges whilst yielding better efficiencies in service delivery. In my closing remarks, I did petition the donor community to consider including all stakeholders in the strategic planning stages so that their support is aligned to the government strategies. Finally, in order to ensure sustainability in adaption, I requested that change management be considered as a critical component in all digital transformation initiatives. I’d like to thank National Information Technology Authority-Uganda , Ministry of Health - Uganda, World Health Organization – GIDH (Global initiative on Digital Health), Health informatics in Africa (HELINA), South African Informatics Association (SAHIA), for providing an enabling environment to foster capacity building and strengthening of international cooperation in digital health. Together we can transform lives through using ICTs to improve service delivery in Uganda. #DigitizeUg Derrick Muneene