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Human resources for the health supply chain in Ethiopia – results from a
country case study

Poster · November 2017

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Dawit Teshome Gebregeorgise Janine Morgall Traulsen

Addis Ababa University University of Copenhagen
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Human resources for the health supply chain in
Ethiopia – results from a country case study
Kälvemark Sporrong S1, Traulsen J1, Habtegiorgis BM2, Kabtimer WD2, Gebregeorgise DT 3, Ahmed Khan S 4, Brown AN 4
1Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2Unicef, Ethiopia Country Office, Ethiopia
3Department of Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
4 People hat Deliver, Denmark
Introduction
Safe and effective supply of medicines has different
connotations depending on where in the world you
are.
As part of an initiative by People that Deliver (PtD)
on human resources in health supply chain
management (HSCM) with focus on medicines, a
study was carried out in Ethiopia with cooperation
between the universities of Copenhagen and Addis
Ababa, UNICEF and PtD.
This presentation consists of:
1) selected results from this study on human
resources in HSCM in Ethiopia;
2) Experiences of carrying out a long-distance-
research- partnership
Method
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key
stakeholders in Ethiopia. For analysis an inductive,
thematic analysis was employed. Structured
discussions between the research partners were
conducted to identify the researchers’ experiences.
The benefits of working internationally
Working together created learning outcomes for the researchers.
These included:
• Knowledge sharing of the different national contexts and
perspectives
• Gaining insights into each other’s research conditions.
• Networking resulting in future research collaboration
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University of Copenhagen
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACY
Results Conclusion
A total of 25 interviews were conducted.
Three major themes were identified. A positive development of human resources in
HSCM was identified.
“At this time we are not However, challenges include: lack of coordination,
General changes in human resources staff mobility, job/career structures, under-developed
talking about sustainability structures and lack of adequate personnel in rural
areas, and long-term sustainability.
There seems to be a more visible commitment by the
government in Ethiopia which has been manifested
issues,
in several ways. As mentioned by one of the
respondents:
rather we are talking about In Ethiopia, there is a large number of stakeholders
(not least donors/NGOs). There is a risk that these
“There is willingness of government officials to
how to start.“ organizations will at some point move out of the
country, leaving in their wake a supply chain that falls
work on [the] supply chain at all levels.” short of resources e.g. to buy products, sustain
transportation and storage, and train personnel.
Respondents mentioned an increase in recent years
in the number of professionals who have taken Although human resources in the health supply chain
HSCM courses. of medicines in Ethiopia is developing, it still faces
major challenges especially in recruiting and
“People now understand that the supply chain maintaining personnel.
should be managed by supply chain personnel
who have the required skills and knowledge.
…and these skills differ at each level in the
system.”
Education and training
Respondents reported advances in the pre-service
and in-service training of human resources in HSCM.
“I have been working in the system [health
centers] for the last ten years and I can see there
is an increase in the [number of] professionals
and the in-service and pre-service training. There
is standardization of the training given for those
professionals working in the supply chain.”
Training is given at different levels, from staff at
health posts to health professionals in health centers
and hospitals.
However, it seems that some regions have benefited
more than others.
“There is some change, but it has not been the
big change yet”
Barriers and enablers
Respondents suggested solutions to current
problems in different areas. One of the most
frequently mentioned areas was finances, not least
the importance of assuring financial resources in the
future.
Also mentioned was a need for more people trained
in and working with the medicines supply chain, in Ethiopia in brief
addition to the now prominent group of pharmacists.
Several respondents pointed out problems and Population: 99.4 million (in 2015)1
possible solutions to the question of education and Life expectancy at birth: 64,6 years (in 2015)1
training. More than 156 hospitals, 3,335 health centers and 16,251 health posts2
246 drug importers and/or wholesalers, 12 drug manufacturing firms, 378 pharmacies, 1,662 drug
shops, and rural drug vendors3
“ …our problem can’t be resolved by having
80% of the health problems in the country are due to preventable, communicable and nutritional
professionals with a master’s degree, since
diseases4
these individuals can only work at the central
GNI (Gross National Income) per capita (Atlas method): $550 (in 2014)1
level and most of our problems are on the lower
More than 85% of the population live in rural areas4
level.”
Number of pharmacists 2,2505
1. http://data.worldbank.org/country/ethiopia
2. Federal Ministry of Health (Ethiopia). Health and Health Related indicators 2013/14. Addis Ababa: 2014
3. Central Statistical Agency (Ethiopia). Statistical Abstract of Ethiopia-Health. 2014
4. The Earth Institute at Columbia University – Center for National Health Development in Ethiopia. The Health System. 2015
5. Personal communication, Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Association
Contact information
Sofia Kälvemark Sporrong, sofia.sporrong@sund.ku.dk
Janine M Traulsen, janine.traulsen@sund.ku.dk
Dawit Gebregeorgise, dawit.teshome@aau.edu.et
Andrew Brown, anbrown.hss@gmail.com
Kälvemark Sporrong S, Traulsen JM, Kabtimer WD, Habtegiorgis BM,
Gebregeorgise DT, Essah NAM, Ahmed Khan S, Brown AN.
Developing and sustaining human resources in the health supply chain in
Ethiopia – barriers and enablers.
Rural and Remote Health. 2016 Accepted.