TY - JOUR
T1 - The Papua New Guinea medical supply system - documenting opportunities and challenges to meet the Millennium Development Goals
AU - Brown, Andrew
AU - GILBERT, Ben
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge the funding provided by the United Nations Population Fund for the fieldwork required in this research. The authors would also like to thank the Ministry of Health officials and health personnel from Papua New Guinea who gave of their time to participate in the study.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Objectives: Limited human resources are widely recognised as an impediment to achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals in Pacific Island Countries, with the availability of medical supplies and suitably trained health personnel crucial to ensuring a well-functioning medical supply chain. This paper presents our findings as we seek to answer the research question ‘What factors influence the availability of medical supplies within the health facilities of Papua New Guinea?’ Methods: We used a qualitative, triangulated strategy using semi-structured interviews, workplace observation and semi-structured focus groups. The parallel use of the interview tool and workplace observation tool allowed identification of ‘know-do’ gaps between what the interviewee said they did in their work practices, and the actual evidence of these practices. Focus groups provided further opportunities for raising and elaborating issues. Results: During 2 weeks of data collection we conducted 17 interviews and 15 observational workplace surveys in 15 facilities. Sixteen health personnel participated in 3 focus groups across 2 provinces and one district. An array of medical supply issues across all levels of the medical supply chain were revealed, including standard operating procedures, facilities, transport, emergency medical kits, the cold chain and record keeping. The influence of health worker training and competency was found to be common across all of these issues. Conclusion: The factors influencing the availability of medical supplies in PNG consist of a range of interrelating issues, consisting of both simple and complex problems involving the different levels and cadres of workers within the medical supply chain. Health systems sustainability theory suggests that a coordinated approach which addresses the inter-related nature of these issues, led by the PNG government and supported by suitable development partners, will be required for sustainable health systems change to occur. These changes are necessary for PNG to meet the health-related Millennium Development Goals.
AB - Objectives: Limited human resources are widely recognised as an impediment to achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals in Pacific Island Countries, with the availability of medical supplies and suitably trained health personnel crucial to ensuring a well-functioning medical supply chain. This paper presents our findings as we seek to answer the research question ‘What factors influence the availability of medical supplies within the health facilities of Papua New Guinea?’ Methods: We used a qualitative, triangulated strategy using semi-structured interviews, workplace observation and semi-structured focus groups. The parallel use of the interview tool and workplace observation tool allowed identification of ‘know-do’ gaps between what the interviewee said they did in their work practices, and the actual evidence of these practices. Focus groups provided further opportunities for raising and elaborating issues. Results: During 2 weeks of data collection we conducted 17 interviews and 15 observational workplace surveys in 15 facilities. Sixteen health personnel participated in 3 focus groups across 2 provinces and one district. An array of medical supply issues across all levels of the medical supply chain were revealed, including standard operating procedures, facilities, transport, emergency medical kits, the cold chain and record keeping. The influence of health worker training and competency was found to be common across all of these issues. Conclusion: The factors influencing the availability of medical supplies in PNG consist of a range of interrelating issues, consisting of both simple and complex problems involving the different levels and cadres of workers within the medical supply chain. Health systems sustainability theory suggests that a coordinated approach which addresses the inter-related nature of these issues, led by the PNG government and supported by suitable development partners, will be required for sustainable health systems change to occur. These changes are necessary for PNG to meet the health-related Millennium Development Goals.
KW - essential medicines supply
KW - supply chain management
KW - pharmacy
KW - Papua New Guinea
KW - competency sustainable health systems
KW - interview
KW - focus group
KW - workplace observation survey
KW - Millenium development goals
KW - Supply chain management
KW - Interview
KW - Workplace observation survey
KW - Pharmacy
KW - Sustainable health systems
KW - Competency
KW - Essential medicines supply
KW - Focus group
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84904761842&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/papua-new-guinea-medical-supply-system-documenting-opportunities-challenges-meet-millennium-developm
U2 - 10.1186/2052-3211-7-5
DO - 10.1186/2052-3211-7-5
M3 - Article
SN - 2052-3211
VL - 7
SP - 1
EP - 10
JO - Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice
JF - Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice
IS - 1
M1 - 5
ER -