Annual Progress Report: USAID/Uganda Health Supply Chain Program Year 1

The program aims to improve the availability, affordability, accessibility, and appropriate use of essential medicines and health supplies (EMHS) in Uganda. The program is implemented by Management Sciences for Health in collaboration with several local and international partners, including Harvard University, Euro Health Group, and Makerere University College of Health Sciences. The UHSC program builds on the achievements and lessons learned from the Securing Ugandans' Rights to Essential Medicines program and focuses on health system strengthening to ensure availability and equitable access to EMHS. The program's objectives include improving Uganda's policies and strategies to support cost-effective, equitable, and transparent use of EMHS resources, strengthening country capacity for effective management and utilization of EMHS, and increasing availability and access to EMHS for priority populations. The program's technical result areas and activities are focused on national policies that support cost-effective, equitable, and transparent use of EMHS resources, and country capacity strengthened to effectively and sustainably manage the supply chain. The program has made significant progress in strengthening central supply chain management systems, including the National Medical Stores, Joint Medical Store, and National Drug Authority. The program has also implemented various initiatives to improve pharmaceutical management information systems, capacity building, and data utilization. In terms of national policies, the program has worked to improve affordability, availability, and accessibility of EMHS, as well as financial information management and governance. The program has also conducted operations research to inform policy decisions and has advocated for the pharmaceutical sector. The program's efforts have resulted in improved central warehouse performance, increased availability of EMHS, and enhanced capacity building and data utilization. The program has also made significant progress in strengthening country capacity, including the roll-out of the RxSolution system, the implementation of the pharmaceutical information portal, and the strengthening of the Pharmacy Division and other MoH technical programs. The program has also improved logistics coordination and collaboration, pharmaceutical sector monitoring and evaluation, and streamlining and harmonization of supply chain management systems. Overall, the UHSC program has made significant progress in its first year, achieving several of its objectives and laying the foundation for future success. The program's efforts have improved the availability, affordability, accessibility, and appropriate use of EMHS in Uganda, and have strengthened the country's capacity to manage its supply chain effectively and sustainably.