access to
medicines

Ensuring the availability of essential medicines in public health facilities is crucial for achieving universal health coverage. In India, limited access to medicines at the public health facilities remains a significant challenge contributing to high out-of-pocket expenditures and financial hardship, particularly among lower-income populations. Stockouts and inefficiencies in supply chain management further hinder timely access to critical treatments.

At HSTP, we work to address these systemic challenges by strengthening supply chain management and improving the availability of essential medicines in the public health facilities. Through rigorous research, development of knowledge products and generation of data-driven insights, we inform and support evidence-based programmatic decisions to enhance equitable access to medicines.

OUR WORK

Improving availability of Essential Drugs at the Public health Facilities in Odisha

HSTP conducted a research study to examine the factors contributing to high out-of-pocket expenses on medicines in Odisha’s public health facilities. Through a multi-stakeholder approach engaging the State Medical Corporation, district drug warehouses, healthcare providers, pharmacists and beneficiaries, we identified critical gaps in the drug supply chain. Our study emphasized key areas for improvement including supply chain inefficiencies, governance gaps and infrastructure constraints. A strategic roadmap with actionable recommendations to enhance the availability of essential medicines across public health facilities was submitted to the state government to inform policy and system-level interventions.

Strengthening Supply Chain Management System for Essential Drugs in Chhattisgarh

HSTP undertook a comprehensive assessment of the drug supply chain management system in Chhattisgarh to identify opportunities for improvement. Engaging closely with state officials from the Directorate of Health Services and Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Ltd., our technical team conducted extensive consultations and on-site evaluations of drug warehouses to assess storage conditions and logistics management. Based on our findings, we developed a detailed action plan with recommendations to the state to enhance supply chain efficiency, optimize storage practices and ensure consistent availability of essential medicines across public health facilities in the state.

Streamline Indenting Procedures of Medical Colleges

HSTP team has expertise in evaluating and indenting procedures at Medical Colleges, which play a crucial role for delivering tertiary healthcare, training professionals, conducting research and advancing public health initiatives. Leveraging national best practices, we provided technical assistance to Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd. and Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Ltd. to streamline indenting systems at Medical Colleges. Our goal is to ensure procurement efficiency, ensuring timely availability of essential medicines, and strengthening supply chain reliability processes across all levels of the healthcare system.

Strengthening Supply Chain Management for Essential Medicines and Equipments in Meghalaya

A comprehensive review of the Meghalayan Medical Drugs & Services Limited (MMDSL) was conducted by HSTP to evaluate its procurement, logistics and supply chain management systems for medicines and equipment. Our evaluation included an in-depth analysis of MMDSL’s operations and facility visits to identify key challenges affecting medicine availability at public healthcare facilities. Based on our findings, we proposed a set of immediate, mid-term and long-term measures aimed at strengthening procurement practices, optimizing distribution networks and improving overall supply chain efficiency to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential medicines and equipment across Meghalaya’s public healthcare facilities.