POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA COURSE IN GLOBAL HEALTH PROCUREMENT & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

For more information please reach Mr. Evans Mwemezi via calmevans@gmail.com

Course Structure:

1. Introduction to Procurement and Supply Chain Management

This introductory module aims to provide a complete overview of the PSM approach in global
health. Students will be exposed to basic terminology, fundamental concepts of pharmaceutical
management, public health programs and how the PSM function fits into the overall structure.
 Overview
 Basic Terminologies
 Public Health Objectives
 Pharmaceutical Management
 Introduction to Procurement and Supply Management
 Role of the PSM staff
 Challenges in PSM

2. Public Health Commodities

In this module students will develop a basic understanding of health commodities, review on
how products on the national treatment guidelines is arrived at including the process, persons
involved, key strengths and gaps. Detailed understanding of the essential medicines concept
will be dealt with.
 Health Commodity Classification Systems
 Types of Public Health Commodities
 Market Size for Health Commodities
 Introduction to the essential medicines concept
 Standard Treatment guidelines
 Product Registration
 Impact of Product Selection
3. Quantification and Supply Planning
Aim of this module is to understand the methodology, tools and key process to estimate the
country needs for health commodities. Understanding scientific forecasting methods as applied
to various product categories.
 Forecasting versus Quantification
 Need for Quantification
 Quantification Methods
 Quantification of Various Commodity Types
 Creating and Validating Forecasts
 Accuracy of Forecasts
 Triangulation of Data
 Funding and Budgeting
 Issues to consider while Forecasting

4. Global Health Procurement

At the end of this module, the students will be able to understand the processes, personnel and
standards applied as well as country capacity to carry out effective procurement. Focus will be
on principles of good procurement practice, writing of procurement plans and types of
procurement methods.
 Introduction to the procurement process
 Total procurement costs
 Types of procurement methods
 Good procurement practices
 Supplier selection methodology
 Contracting methods
 Procurement planning methodology
 Supplier management methodology
 Writing Procurement plans
 Procurement manuals and SOPs
 Procurement capacities
 Procurement outsourcing
 Procurement System Assessments
 Procurement Audits

5. Inventory Management

This module elaborates upon the principles of inventory management and various inventory
policies and norms. Focus will be on the importance of having an inventory strategy and its
implementation.
 Understanding inventory
 Basics of Inventory Management
 Push versus Pull Systems
 Centralized versus Decentralized Systems
 Stock records and standard reports
 Service level and safety stock
 Inventory control models
 Minimum and maximum stock-level formula
 Key Performance Indicators
 Inventory Management Systems
 Inventory management as a tool to reduce stock outs and expiries

6. Storage & Distribution

In this module students will be able to gain knowledge of WHO Good Storage and Distribution
Practices, warehouses processes, transportation systems, and techniques on maintaining a cold
chain. Focus will be on design of country distribution systems, effectiveness of the system, and
level of responsiveness.
 The Distribution cycle
 Designing a country distribution network
 Infrastructure requirements
 Flow of products through the distribution system
 Warehouse Processes
 Good Distribution Practices
 Good Storage Practices
 Resources for distribution management
 Cost analysis and performance monitoring
 Information Management Systems
 Outsourcing of the storage and distribution functions
 Risk management

7. Rational Use of Medicines

At the end of this module, learners will be able to understand the concepts of rational medicines
use, its impact upon availability and efficacy of a public health system.
 Understanding rational medicine use
 Understanding irrational medicine use
 Adverse effects
 Underuse versus Overuse
 Impact on medicine quality
 Cost implications
 Communication issues
 Impact on Selection and Quantification

8. PSM Support Functions & Systems

This module introduces learners to the key support functions and systems of PSM such as HR,
Finance, Quality Assurance, Information Systems etc. It helps students gain a thorough
understanding on how these support functions indirectly but significantly affect the
performance of the PSM function. They will also learn how to most efficiently design, implement
and manage them.
 Organization and staffing of the PSM function
 PSM data & the information systems pyramid
 Implementing a Logistics Management Information System
 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance
 Practical approaches to Quality Assurance
 Financial Impact of PSM
 Funding for PSM projects

9. Dissertation

The dissertation will provide an opportunity to the students for applying all the concepts
learned over the past eight modules in a single project. The dissertation would preferably be
based on the situation in the students’ own country/region and suggesting how an identified
problem could be practically addressed. Outstanding dissertation projects will be promoted by
Empower on a best effort basis to be adopted as funded projects by leading public health
organisations.
• The output is expected to be a brief ‘Concept Note’ with more detailed supporting evidence of
one area of particular interest to the student
• Topics are to be discussed and agreed with the course faculty
• The faculty mentor assigned to the student will provide guidance throughout the dissertation