Supplies
Ensuring reliable supply chains for MNCH commodities
Supplies
Ensuring reliable supply chains for MNCH commodities
A reliable supply of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) commodities is essential for delivering high-quality health services and improving health outcomes. Stockouts of essential medicines, contraceptives, and life-saving interventions can lead to service disruptions, reduced client trust, and preventable maternal and child deaths. Strengthening supply chain management within health systems ensures that facility-based providers and community health workers (CHWs) have continuous access to the supplies they need to provide effective care.
Effective supply chain management involves forecasting demand, procuring quality-assured commodities, ensuring timely distribution, and maintaining proper storage and inventory management. Local governments play a key role in ensuring that MNCH supplies are adequately funded, tracked, and replenished. Leveraging digital tools, strengthening procurement systems, and integrating community-level reporting can help prevent stockouts and reduce wastage.
This section of the HSS toolkit provides practical guidance, tools, and best practices for improving supply chain resilience and ensuring an uninterrupted flow of essential MNCH commodities. By investing in stronger supply systems and fostering coordination across all levels of the health system, countries can enhance service delivery, improve maternal and child health outcomes, and sustain the impact of high-impact practices at scale.
Essential Supplies for Effective MNCH Service Delivery
Maternal Health Supplies
- Oxytocin & Misoprostol (for preventing and managing postpartum hemorrhage)
- Magnesium sulfate (for managing eclampsia and pre-eclampsia)
- Iron and folic acid supplements (for preventing anemia)
- Blood pressure monitors
- Delivery kits (gloves, sterile blades, umbilical cord clamps, etc.)
Newborn Health Supplies
- Neonatal resuscitation equipment (bag and mask, suction devices)
- Thermal care items (skin-to-skin wraps, warmers, hats)
- Chlorhexidine (for umbilical cord care)
- Injectable antibiotics (for treating infections like sepsis)
- Kangaroo mother care wraps (for preterm or low-birth-weight babies)
Child Health Supplies
- Oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc (for diarrhea management)
- Vaccines (BCG, Polio, DTP, Measles, etc.)
- Antibiotics (for pneumonia and other infections)
- Vitamin A supplements (for immune support)
- Growth monitoring tools (weighing scales, MUAC tapes for malnutrition assessment)
Basic Infection Prevention & Hygiene Supplies
- Hand sanitizers and gloves
- Disinfectants (for sterilization)
- Safe delivery kits
- Water purification tablets
Family Planning & Reproductive Health Supplies
- Contraceptives (oral pills, injectables, condoms, IUDs)
- Pregnancy test kits
- Postpartum IUD insertion kits
How to Implement
Implementing an effective supply chain for MNCH involves several key steps:
1. Assess Needs
- Organize a needs assessment to ascertain gaps in supplies and prioritize essential commodities.
- Use tools like the WHO Essential Medicines List and the UNICEF Supply Catalogue.
2. Strengthen Supply Chain Management
- Plan a robust supply chain system to ensure the availability of supplies at all levels of the health system.
- Predicting and Quantification: While taking seasonal variations and consumption rates into account, clearly define how much of each supply will be required over a given time frame
- Procurement Planning: Develop a procurement plan that includes supplier selection, budgeting, and timelines.
- Quality Assurance: Make sure that all purchased supplies fulfill established quality standards to ensure safety and effectiveness. The Manual for Procurement and Supply of Quality-Assured Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Commodities provides comprehensive guidelines for establishing a quality assurance system in the MNCH supply chain.
- Storage and Inventory Management: Strictly put in place appropriate storage conditions and inventory control systems to maintain supply integrity and prevent stockouts or overstocking.
- Distribution and Logistics: To guarantee prompt supply delivery to medical facilities, set up effective distribution networks.
- Use digital tools like mSupply or OpenLMIS for inventory management.
3. Train Healthcare Workers
- Provide training on the use of supplies, such as neonatal resuscitation or infection prevention.
- Take advantage of resources such as the Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) training curriculum.
4. Monitor and Evaluate
- Implement a monitoring system to track the supply's usage and availability.
- Use key indicators (see below) to regularly assess supply chain performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Use metrics such as supply utilization rates and stockout rates, for instance.
5. Engage Stakeholders
- Collaborate with governments, NGOs, and private sector partners to ensure sustainable funding and procurement.
- Use available resources, such as the UNICEF Supply Division.
6. Advocate for Policy Change
- Advocate for policies that prioritize MNCH supplies and allocate sufficient funding.
- Take advantage of resources, such as the PMNCH Advocacy Toolkit and TCI's Advocacy Toolkit.
MNCH Supply Considerations Across the Continuum of Care
| Preconception Care | Support for family planning through availability of contraceptives; provision of micronutrient supplements such as iron and folic acid to improve nutritional status before pregnancy; HIV testing kits and antiretrovirals for PMTCT preparation; and screening supplies to identify health risks early. |
| Antenatal Care | Improved access to essential services through availability of diagnostics, supplements, and medications; prevention and management of pregnancy complications such as eclampsia; maternal immunization supported by vaccines and cold chain systems; and nutrition support through supplements and therapeutic foods. |
| Birth (Labor & Delivery) | Reduced maternal and neonatal mortality through availability of oxytocin, misoprostol, and safe delivery supplies; infection prevention through gloves, sterilization equipment, and antiseptics; support for skilled birth attendance with delivery kits and essential equipment; and emergency preparedness with stocked supplies for complications. |
| Newborn Care | Reduced neonatal mortality through resuscitation equipment and antibiotics; infection prevention through sterile supplies; early immunization supported by vaccines and cold chain; and improved monitoring using basic diagnostic tools. |
| Postpartum Care | Continued infection prevention and management of complications; postpartum family planning supported by contraceptive supplies; maternal and newborn nutrition supported through supplements; and follow-up care enabled through diagnostic and monitoring tools. |
| Children Under 5 | Increased immunization coverage through vaccines and cold chain systems; improved nutrition through vitamin A and therapeutic foods; management of childhood illnesses supported by essential medicines and supplies; and growth monitoring through charts and diagnostic tools. |
| Cross-Cutting Health Systems Strengthening | Strengthened health systems through reliable supply chains; improved access and reduced service delays; enhanced data collection and monitoring using registers and tools; increased equity by reaching underserved populations; economic benefits through cost savings and improved productivity; stronger community trust and engagement; and improved emergency preparedness. |
What's the Evidence
Strong evidence demonstrates that access to essential MNCH supplies leads to improved health outcomes for mothers, newborns, and children. Programs with well-managed supply chains not only strengthen service delivery but also save lives and reduce health disparities.
Key Indicators
- Stockout Rate: Percentage of health facilities with stockouts of essential MNCH supplies.
- Lead Time: Average time taken to replenish supplies.
- Wastage Rate: Percentage of supplies expired or unused.
Test Your Knowledge
Earn a Certificate
Tips
- Analyze Context: Understand the local healthcare environment, including infrastructure, cultural practices, and available resources.
- Engage Stakeholders: Involve communities, health workers, and policymakers in planning and decision-making to ensure buy-in and sustainability.
- Build Capacity: Invest in training healthcare workers and supply chain managers to improve MNCH supply management.
- Use Technology: Leverage digital tools for inventory tracking, forecasting, and data collection to improve efficiency.
- Align with Policy: Ensure supply strategies comply with national and international health policies and standards.
Challenges
- Supply Chain Disruptions: Prepare for political instability, natural disasters, or pandemics by developing contingency plans, maintaining buffer stocks, and working with multiple suppliers.
- Funding Gaps: Address limited procurement and distribution funding by advocating for increased investment, forming public-private partnerships, and prioritizing cost-effective interventions.
- Logistical Barriers: Overcome poor storage and transport infrastructure by investing in vehicles, improving delivery systems, and exploring innovations like drone deliveries.
- Quality Assurance Issues: Ensure the safety and effectiveness of supplies by implementing strong quality control protocols based on global standards.
- Training Gaps: Improve the use of MNCH supplies through regular healthcare worker training, coaching, and mentorship programs.
- Data Gaps: Enhance planning and monitoring by strengthening health information systems and improving supply data collection and usage tracking.
Key Resources
- Procurement and Supply of Quality-Assured Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Commodities. USAID 2022
- Improving the Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health: Implementation Guide. WHO 2022
- MNCH Resources. AAP 2021
- Quality of Care – Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health. WHO
- Data & Measurement. TCI University
- Planning & Management of MNCH Equipment & Commodities. Newborn Toolkit. WHO & UNICEF
- Best Practices in Subnational Procurement of MNCH Commodities. MTaPS 2023
- Helping Babies Breathe. American Academy of Pediatrics 2016