Securing Ugandans' Right to Essential Medicines (SURE) Program Quarterly Report Q5

Agency for International Development (USAID) to strengthen the national pharmaceutical supply system in Uganda. The program aims to ensure that Uganda's population has access to good quality essential medicines and health supplies. Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is the implementing partner, collaborating with Euro Health Group, Fuel Group/Pharmaceutical Healthcare Distributors, Makerere University, and the Infectious Disease Institute. The SURE program will build on the past achievements of various pharmaceutical sector support programs, including SCMS, Deliver, SPS, and the Danida-funded Health Sector Support Program. It will require coordination and collaboration with every stakeholder in the pharmaceutical sector, including donors, the Ministry of Health, U.S. government implementing partners, and other stakeholders. The program's technical interventions focus on correcting policy and finance deficits, strengthening supply chain systems at the central level and in 45 selected districts, and developing human capacity to manage the reformed supply chain systems. The SURE program will implement key strategies to achieve its objectives, including the establishment of a Quantification and Procurement Planning unit, streamlining distribution, reviewing Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) related to National Medical Stores (NMS) performance, and strengthening financial management and tracking. The program will also build facility capacity in supply chain, financial, and medicines management through a performance-based reward strategy implemented through supply chain supervision and capacity building. To strengthen management and planning, the SURE program will develop and implement an electronic Medicines Management Information System (eMMIS) at higher facility level and a central level Pharmaceutical Information Portal (PIP). The program's objectives include improving Uganda's policy, legal, and regulatory framework to produce pharmaceutical supply chain stability and sustainability, improving capacity and performance of central government entities, especially NMS, to carry out their supply chain management responsibilities, and improving capacity and performance of districts, health sub-districts, and implementing partners in their supply chain management roles. The SURE program will be implemented in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, National Medical Stores, and other implementing partners. The program's progress will be monitored and evaluated through a performance monitoring plan, and a post-implementation review will be conducted to assess the program's impact and sustainability. The SURE program's quarterly report for January 2011 highlights the program's progress in achieving its objectives. The report notes that the program has made significant progress in improving the policy, legal, and regulatory framework to provide for longer-term stability and public sector health commodities sustainability. The report also highlights the program's efforts to improve the capacity and performance of central government entities, especially NMS, to carry out their supply chain management responsibilities. The report notes that the program has established a Quantification and Procurement Planning unit, streamlined distribution, and reviewed PPDA related to NMS performance. The program has also strengthened financial management and tracking, and built facility capacity in supply chain, financial, and medicines management through a performance-based reward strategy implemented through supply chain supervision and capacity building. The report also highlights the program's efforts to strengthen management and planning, including the development and implementation of an eMMIS at higher facility level and a central level PIP. The report notes that the program has made significant progress in improving the capacity and performance of districts, health sub-districts, and implementing partners in their supply chain management roles. Overall, the SURE program is making significant progress in achieving its objectives and strengthening the national pharmaceutical supply system in Uganda. The program's quarterly report for January 2011 highlights the program's progress and efforts to improve the policy, legal, and regulatory framework, capacity and performance of central government entities, and facility capacity in supply chain, financial, and medicines management.