The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) is no exception. Through the adoption of the Integrated Logistics Management Information System (i-LMIS), Kemsa has not only revolutionized the health supply chain but also instilled confidence among development partners, enhancing transparency and accountability in its operations.
A Leap Forward in Supply Chain Management
The development and implementation of i-LMIS at Kemsa represents a pivotal shift in how the organization manages medical supplies across the country. The system, developed with support from the United Nations Population Fund-Kenya (UNFPA-Kenya), the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), and the Division of Reproductive and Maternal Health (DRMH-MoH), integrates a range of advanced features aimed at optimizing resupply decisions, reducing wastage, and ensuring the timely delivery of Health Products and Technologies (HPT) to health facilities.
One of the core elements of i-LMIS is its Commodity Early Warning and Alerts System (CEWAS), which enables Kemsa to proactively monitor stock levels and forecast demand. This system, paired with the Logistics Information Management System (LMIS) and the e-POD app, ensures that health facilities receive their supplies on time, in full, and error-free. The real-time data provided by these systems gives Kemsa, health facilities, and stakeholders visibility into where commodities are located at any given moment, thereby improving decision-making and planning processes.
Optimizing Resource Allocation
According to Dennis Ndwiga, Senior Programs Officer at Kemsa, the implementation of i-LMIS has been a game changer in terms of managing and tracking medical supplies. “This system has fundamentally shifted our approach to managing the supply chain,” he notes, “instilling confidence among development partners who were previously skeptical about transparency and accountability in our operations.” Through i-LMIS, Kemsa is now able to monitor key performance indicators in real-time, which enhances commodity security and supply chain efficiency. This visibility has allowed Kemsa to avert stockouts and reduce wastage, directly impacting the availability of essential commodities in health facilities across the country.
One of the standout features of i-LMIS is its Allocation System, which employs Artificial Intelligence to assess monthly consumption patterns from health facilities and determine the necessary replenishments. This data-driven approach has led to a significant reduction in stockout rates for critical items, such as family planning commodities, which have decreased from 15% to just 3% across Kenya. The system’s success in family planning has spurred the adoption of its principles across other health programs, including HIV, TB, Malaria, and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), among others.
The introduction of the Electronic Proof of Delivery (e-POD) app has further enhanced the supply chain process. This mobile application ensures that deliveries are made accurately, on time, and fully to their destinations. By capturing signatures and geotagged images upon delivery, it provides transparency and accountability, addressing issues of leakage and errors in the supply chain.
Impact on Efficiency and Savings
Since the rollout of i-LMIS in 2022, approximately 8,500 out of 9,500 health facilities in Kenya have adopted the system. The system’s on-site training for County and Sub-County Health Management Teams has been instrumental in its uptake. These teams have reported improved ease of use, order accuracy, and enhanced visibility into the distribution system. By conducting assessments across different terrains, reviewing Order Turnaround Times (OTAT), and analyzing distribution performance, these teams have been able to prioritize funding for various commodities more effectively, especially those that are underfunded.
The implementation of i-LMIS has led to a remarkable 60% reduction in the cost of expiries for Program Health Products and Technologies (HPT). This reduction in wastage, combined with a decrease in OTAT from 20 days to just 7 days, has significantly reduced costs and enhanced supply chain efficiency. Order fill rates have also improved from 65% to 99%, further indicating the system’s success in maintaining consistent supply levels across the health facilities.
Future Prospects and Expansion
Kemsa’s successful adoption of i-LMIS has paved the way for further expansions and integrations within the healthcare sector. The system is now being rolled out to all 47 counties for family planning, with plans to extend its use to other health programs and essential medicines management. The ongoing integration of i-LMIS into various national health programs, including Malaria, Ophthalmology, and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD), promises to provide a comprehensive, end-to-end visibility of commodities across the supply chain.
Ndwiga highlights the importance of this integration, stating, “The system has not only helped us reduce stockouts but also enabled better prioritization of funding for various health programs. The aim is to have zero percent stockout rates in family planning and other commodities across the country.” This focus on visibility and accountability will continue to enhance the resilience of the health supply chain, ensuring that Kenyans have access to critical health commodities when and where they are needed.
The successful implementation of i-LMIS at Kemsa underscores the critical role that technology plays in modernizing supply chains and improving access to healthcare. As Kenya continues to embrace digital solutions, systems like i-LMIS will be pivotal in shaping a more efficient, transparent, and accountable health system, ultimately improving health outcomes for all Kenyans.
