New Paper: “Ensuring Future Fit: Global Health Procurement and Supply Chains by 2040”

We are delighted to announce the publication of our new paper, “Ensuring Future Fit: Global Health Procurement and Supply Chains by 2040.” 

This comprehensive study delves into the profound impacts of global shifts and underlying forces on existing procurement and supply chain management (PSM) programs, offering crucial insights for donors, country governments, and the private sector.

The paper examines the intersection of four pivotal global health forces—Population and Disease Transition, the Environment, Technology, and the Economy—and presents four key action areas to address these challenges:

Patient-Centric Supply Chain Redesign and Financing

• Focus Shift: Emphasizes the need to redesign supply chains to meet diverse patient preferences, as individuals increasingly seek services through various public and private channels, including digital platforms.
• Data Needs: Stresses the importance of extensive and systematic data collection to understand patient needs across different regions and disease areas, which is currently managed only on an ad hoc basis.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Scale for Investments

• Technology Assessment: Advocates for the development of a TRL scale to evaluate technology readiness and the adoption of a unified enterprise technology architecture (ETA) framework across health, financial, and supply chain systems.
• Benefits: Highlights how converged technology investments can improve interoperability and cost sustainability, while addressing the skills gap is essential for effective technology utilization.

Combined Risk Scenario Planning for Resilience

• Risk Management: Calls for enhanced methods to detect and manage various supply chain risks, including those from climate change, trade barriers, cyberattacks, and supplier market vulnerabilities.
• Collaborative Planning: Recommends scenario planning exercises to assess and address vulnerabilities within the global health supply chain ecosystem.

Increased Transparency, Governance, and Coordination

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Encourages greater collaboration among global health stakeholders and a more significant role for procurement and supply chain professionals in investment strategies and decision-making.
• Strategic Development: Proposes the creation of a thought piece to outline the roles of global, regional, and national agencies in financing, procurement, and supply chain systems, aiming to support sovereign capacities and reduce dependency on aid.

We believe that this paper provides a vital roadmap for guiding our collective efforts toward a healthier, more resilient world. It is a journey that requires embracing complexity, fostering innovation, and committing to a shared purpose. We hope this work will inspire and drive meaningful progress in global health procurement and supply chains.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

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