Analyzing the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the Ministry of health in Saudi Arabia: A quantitative survey study
Background: Investigating the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the MOH in Saudi Arabia could be the initial step in setting innovative strategies for mitigating this issue. This study aimed to identify the key factors contributing to essential me...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Informatics in Medicine Unlocked |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352914824000133 |
| _version_ | 1797271344374611968 |
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| author | Fatin Alshibli Khaled Alqarni Hasan Balfaqih |
| author_facet | Fatin Alshibli Khaled Alqarni Hasan Balfaqih |
| author_sort | Fatin Alshibli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Investigating the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the MOH in Saudi Arabia could be the initial step in setting innovative strategies for mitigating this issue. This study aimed to identify the key factors contributing to essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the MOH in Saudi Arabia and assess their impact on healthcare delivery. Methods: A structured questionnaire was designed to collect relevant data on the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages. A representative sample of healthcare professionals, from various healthcare MOH facilities in Saudi Arabia. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26 was used for the data analysis. Results: A total of 379 respondents participated in the study, 73.7% were males, 51.2% were aged 36–45 years, 23.5% were supply chain professionals, and 32.9% reported an experience of >15 years. 90.0% of the participants reported that they personally have experienced shortages of essential medicines and supplies in the MOH supply chain in KSA. Inadequate planning, forecasting, and procurement were identified as the most significant contributing factors for shortages by about half (48.5%). At least two-thirds of the participants agreed with all strategies adopted for mitigating the issue of shortages. Conclusions: The impact of shortages on patients and healthcare professionals was found to be substantial. The study also identified several key strategies to reduce shortages that received strong support from the participants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:01:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b081a5a44b464a09a0f3cadb24e423a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-9148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:01:23Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Informatics in Medicine Unlocked |
| spelling | doaj.art-b081a5a44b464a09a0f3cadb24e423a42024-03-07T05:28:11ZengElsevierInformatics in Medicine Unlocked2352-91482024-01-0145101457Analyzing the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the Ministry of health in Saudi Arabia: A quantitative survey studyFatin Alshibli0Khaled Alqarni1Hasan Balfaqih2Medical Supply Chain Management, Ministry of Health, Aseer, 62523, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author.Medical Supply Chain Management, Ministry of Health, Aseer, 62523, Saudi ArabiaOperations and Supply Chain Management Department, College of Business, Effat University, Jeddah, 21478 Saudi ArabiaBackground: Investigating the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the MOH in Saudi Arabia could be the initial step in setting innovative strategies for mitigating this issue. This study aimed to identify the key factors contributing to essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the MOH in Saudi Arabia and assess their impact on healthcare delivery. Methods: A structured questionnaire was designed to collect relevant data on the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages. A representative sample of healthcare professionals, from various healthcare MOH facilities in Saudi Arabia. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26 was used for the data analysis. Results: A total of 379 respondents participated in the study, 73.7% were males, 51.2% were aged 36–45 years, 23.5% were supply chain professionals, and 32.9% reported an experience of >15 years. 90.0% of the participants reported that they personally have experienced shortages of essential medicines and supplies in the MOH supply chain in KSA. Inadequate planning, forecasting, and procurement were identified as the most significant contributing factors for shortages by about half (48.5%). At least two-thirds of the participants agreed with all strategies adopted for mitigating the issue of shortages. Conclusions: The impact of shortages on patients and healthcare professionals was found to be substantial. The study also identified several key strategies to reduce shortages that received strong support from the participants.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352914824000133Essential medicinesShortagesSupply chain |
| spellingShingle | Fatin Alshibli Khaled Alqarni Hasan Balfaqih Analyzing the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the Ministry of health in Saudi Arabia: A quantitative survey study Informatics in Medicine Unlocked Essential medicines Shortages Supply chain |
| title | Analyzing the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the Ministry of health in Saudi Arabia: A quantitative survey study |
| title_full | Analyzing the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the Ministry of health in Saudi Arabia: A quantitative survey study |
| title_fullStr | Analyzing the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the Ministry of health in Saudi Arabia: A quantitative survey study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analyzing the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the Ministry of health in Saudi Arabia: A quantitative survey study |
| title_short | Analyzing the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the Ministry of health in Saudi Arabia: A quantitative survey study |
| title_sort | analyzing the causes and impact of essential medicines and supplies shortages in the supply chain of the ministry of health in saudi arabia a quantitative survey study |
| topic | Essential medicines Shortages Supply chain |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352914824000133 |
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