Abstract
The Zimbabwean national HIV/AIDS relief commodities program is gradually expanding with the number of people living with HIV/AIDS receiving antiretroviral therapy increasing at a notable rate as well (UNIDO, 2011), but also according to the same report the program has recently been experiencing short supply of antiretroviral and other related AIDS/HIV relief commodities. The supply chain management system is also noted to be not well defined (UNIDO, 2011) and thus interruption of supply of antiretroviral is a major challenge to the national program as this increases the risk of patients defaulting and hence treatment failure which also leads to resistance of treatment efforts and ARVs. There is a need to strengthen the current supply chain and logistics so as to reduce the risk of stock outs and to also strengthen the capacity of concerned and interested parties to absorb the high volumes of demand for HIV/ AIDS commodities. The main objective of this study was to identify challenges of the current procurement, storage, distributions components of the supply chains in Zimbabwe. The study mainly used primary data collection methods in the form of questionnaires and interviews. Secondary data from the literature review was used to complement the survey.150 questionnaires with both open ended and closed questions as shown in Appendix 1 were administered and 105 valid responses were recorded. Willing participants in the industry including Government, NGOs, Pharmaceutical companies and Embassies that play a pivotal role in the procurement and distribution of HIV/AIDS related commodities and also have offices in Harare, Zimbabwe responded . The perceived national average was then analysed in comparison to that of Nat-Pharm. Solutions and recommendations were then suggested in order to attend to the identified deficiencies, problems and challenges in an effort to strengthen the Supply chains.Poverty and unemployment are both rampant and they make the fight against the HIV/AIDS various difficult and complicated in Zimbabwe. It is also being driven by the shrinking economy and extreme poverty. Aid has sometimes flown continuously but one can note that aid is being politicized as well.The country still needs million to successfully monitor and manage victims. Zimbabwe has also experienced major systems limitations in the delivery of services and commodities. In strengthening procurement and Supply Management, NatPharm is now concentrating on providing procurement services of pharmaceuticals to complement its storage and distribution functions. Agencies were also encouraged to work together and complement each other and also the government’s effort. The government of Zimbabwe should give all the necessary and required space for non-governmental organizations to operate to their maximum possible ability and potential. It was also suggested that further work still need to be done, such work can include “logistics performance measurement”, so as to...
M.Tech. (Operations Management)