Country Overview

The SCMS program, the first of its kind in Guyana, is focused on information sharing, quantification and capacity building as key areas of supply chain improvements.

In Guyana, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among people between the ages of 25 and 44. The Government of Guyana has placed a high emphasis on ensuring that those in need receive appropriate care and treatment by strengthening its pharmaceutical supply chain. The country’s supply chain is largely centralized and nationalized, 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 the HIV/AIDS supply chain.

The SCMS program the first of its kind in Guyana, is focused on information sharing, quantification and capacity building as key areas of supply chain improvements. We are also developing supply chain performance indicators for SCMS and the MMU, where all essential drugs for Guyana are stored.

Key Objectives

• 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.
• Help to develop capacity in rolling forecasts and supply plans.

Activities and Impact

Value of commodities delivered as of December 2008: $1.4 million

Warehousing and logistics: With support from SCMS, the Ministry of Health has opened a new model storage facility for HIV/AIDS medicines and supplies. The warehouse provides a secure and temperature-controlled environment for storing antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and other commodities used in HIV/AIDS testing, care and treatment. SCMS is providing technical assistance in warehouse operations, management and organization to MOH staff and partner organizations, using the model facility as a training ground so that other storage facilities in the country can be updated. The warehouse will eventually be managed by the MMU and will be a critical catalyst for expanding HIV/AIDS care and treatment throughout the country. SCMS collaborated with the MMU on a Warehouse Management System (WMS) tool, incorporating hand-held and radio frequency technology into the new warehouse. The system enables multiple MOH warehouses to operate as one. Replacing manual systems that were prone to inaccuracy and provided limited visibility into inventory levels and product shelf life, the WMS has greatly facilitated inventory management and significantly reduced complaints of shortages of drugs and other supplies. Today, Guyana’s health care supply chain is one of the most developed in the Caribbean.

Procurement: We have developed a plan for harmonizing procurement mechanisms across donors and service providers.

Forecasting and demand planning: To ensure accuracy in supply plans, SCMS has facilitated an annual nationwide forecast of ARV and essential medicines and testing kits with organizations involved in HIV/AIDS treatment. At the same time, technical personnel from the MOH and partner organizations have been trained in the latest methods for quantifying and forecasting medicine and supply needs.