Quantification and Demand Planning for Health Commodities

This course, HSCM 560, focuses on building the capacity of teams responsible for quantification and demand planning, particularly in the context of humanitarian emergencies. The course emphasizes the importance of good data, skilled personnel, and coordination among stakeholders in achieving accurate and reliable quantification of public health commodities. Without these components, quantification exercises can lead to inaccurate and unreliable forecasts of commodity needs, resulting in under- or over-supply of lifesaving products. The course objectives include assisting technical advisors, program managers, warehouse managers, procurement officers, and service providers in estimating total commodity needs and costs to support national health strategies and goals. It also aims to identify funding needs and gaps for procuring required commodities, coordinate procurements and shipment delivery schedules, and implement a process for reviewing and updating quantification results. Key learning outcomes of the course include the ability to collect and analyze data, identify and obtain consensus on forecasting assumptions, and structure forecasting trees for morbidity-based forecasts. Students will also learn to utilize forecasting data and assumptions to calculate the quantity of each product expected to be dispensed or consumed during each year of the quantification. The course covers various topics, including quantification methods, quantification processes, forecasting of health commodities, demand planning, and supply planning. It also explores the role of stakeholders in quantification, forecasting, and demand planning, as well as service level projections and materials requirement planning. The course content is supported by suggested readings from reputable sources, including the USAID DELIVER PROJECT, the SIAPS Program, and the SC4CCM Project Team. The mode of delivery includes lectures, group practices, discussions, audio-visual presentations, and student presentations. Grades in the course are based on individual and group assignments, participation in discussions, a mid-semester examination, and a final end-term examination. Students are required to exhibit academic and scientific writing skills in their presentations and assignments, following the standards of scientific writing. The course requires students to submit assignments on time, with a deadline of 23:59 GMT. Failure to submit assignments on the specified date will attract penalties in the form of a reduced grade. In summary, HSCM 560 Quantification and Demand Planning for Health Commodities is a comprehensive course that aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to quantify and plan for health commodities effectively, particularly in humanitarian emergencies. The course emphasizes the importance of good data, skilled personnel, and coordination among stakeholders in achieving accurate and reliable quantification of public health commodities. The course content is supported by suggested readings from reputable sources, and the mode of delivery includes lectures, group practices, discussions, audio-visual presentations, and student presentations. Grades in the course are based on individual and group assignments, participation in discussions, a mid-semester examination, and a final end-term examination. The course requires students to submit assignments on time, with a deadline