Building Leadership and Governance in Supply Chain for the National TB Control Program of the Philippines

The program aims to achieve the results and deliverables described in the 2010-2016 Philippine Plan of Action to Control Tuberculosis. In 2013, a joint program review revealed gaps in the supply management system of the TB program, including procurement, forecasting, storage capacity, and management practices. To address these gaps, the NTP established the Drugs and Supplies Management Working Group in 2014. This group aims to discuss issues and challenges in the supply chain management of TB medicines and laboratory and other health-related supplies. The working group also helps to coordinate and strengthen NTP efforts to address challenges in medicine management. Medicine supply chain management is complex and requires the coordination and collaboration of multiple stakeholders. Good governance requires appropriate structures, systems, regulations, and procedures to provide quality services and oversight. The ultimate purpose of the working group is to ensure that patients receive the right medicines at the right time. The NTP uses QuanTB to quantify the medicine and supply needs of the program, which are then presented to the Drugs and Supplies Management Working Group. The US Agency for International Development-funded Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) Program is supporting the NTP in its effort to increase the capacity of various aspects of supply chain management, including leadership and governance. SIAPS supported the NTP in establishing the Drugs and Supplies Management Working Group by developing the terms of reference and facilitating regular meetings with partners and stakeholders. The working group aims to provide a platform to discuss, review, and validate decisions surrounding the management of TB medicines and laboratory and health-related commodities. It also ensures good governance, management, and adherence to treatment protocols, and contributes to ensuring transparent and accountable medicine management services and systems. Regular forecasting and quantification exercises and working group meetings have helped the NTP ensure the uninterrupted supply of second-line TB medicines for programmatic management of drug-resistant TB. Since the working group was established in 2014, it has approved six delivery plans and procurement orders to ensure a continuous supply of second-line TB medicines valued at approximately USD 8,456,900. The working group has also accelerated four shipments and two procurement orders to prevent impending stock-outs, held or reduced deliveries to prevent overstock, and averted wastage of medicines due to expiration by redistributing and donating stock.