Med Supply Made Easy
One of the many problems health workers like ASHA, ANM, nurses and doctors in rural India face is irregular supplies of essential medicines and other supplies.
Apparently, the problem is not intentionally caused by health workers or medicine suppliers. Rather, people associated with supply chain management do not have precise and actionable information on the requirement, amount, time of supplies.
Therefore, this proof-of-concept project intends to verify if information regarding current stock status, estimated demand and order information can be made available through SMS among the stakeholders, this problem could significantly be alleviated.
If this idea proves to be effective, we will disseminate the results and scale-up the project.
A propos de vous
A propos de vous
Prénom
ICT
Nom
Health
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A propos de votre organisation
Nom
Innovadors Lab
Site Web
Téléphone
+91-9776431902
Adresse
KIIT School of Biotechnology, Patia, Bhubaneswar, Orissa
Pays
Inde, OR
Pays dans lesquels ce projet crée un impact social
Inde, OR
Votre organisation est-elle une
Entreprise
Depuis combien de temps votre organisation opère-t-elle ?
1‐5 années
Innovation
Titre du formulaire de participation
Med Supply Made Easy
Quels changements pensez-vous apporter ?
One of the many problems health workers like ASHA, ANM, nurses and doctors in rural India face is irregular supplies of essential medicines and other supplies.
Apparently, the problem is not intentionally caused by health workers or medicine suppliers. Rather, people associated with supply chain management do not have precise and actionable information on the requirement, amount, time of supplies.
Therefore, this proof-of-concept project intends to verify if information regarding current stock status, estimated demand and order information can be made available through SMS among the stakeholders, this problem could significantly be alleviated.
If this idea proves to be effective, we will disseminate the results and scale-up the project.
Quelles sont les principales activités mises en place par le projet ?
1. Background:
This idea will be tested in a rural community in Orissa, which has one of the lowest health achievements in India and the world. National Rural Health Mission is a pan-India rural health delivery program which provides services in reproductive, maternal, neo-natal, child health, malaria, filaria, blindness and TB. In a cluster of 2 villages with a total of 5000 people, there is one Sub-Health Centre (SHC) and in a cluster of 6 villages (30,000 people) there is one Primary Health Centre (PHC). Details are available here: http://mohfw.nic.in/WriteReadData/l892s/file35-33319850.pdf.
2. Problem
NRHM has provided with essential drugs and supplies list for SHC, PHC and each health workers. However, facilities and health workers do not have an effective mechanism to report stock status and order fresh stocks. Supply store manager (in district headquarter) also does not react to demands effectively. An effective supply management means i) fast and reliable check of stock status, b) fast order for replenishment and c) store manager who acts upon requests. Traditional paper based system can not solve this problem.
3. Solution approach (activities):
i) Mapping the supply requirements: Since in a given community, number of eligible beneficiaries registered under NRHM is finite and predictable, it is also feasible to predict the stock requirement in SHCs and PHCs, in each category of supplies. There could be additional 10% stocks as safeguard. This analysis of requirements could be done using three databases - a) Register of patients maintained at facilities and health workers, b) NRHM-HMIS database - http://nrhm-mis.nic.in which keeps data at SHC and PHC levels and c) community survey.
ii) SMS: We will then develop an SMS system to allow health workers report stock status in all supply categories and place requisition for fresh stocks. The SMS will be done using a small set of English keywords which will be written in a printed and illustrated pocket guide that will be distributed to all concerned people. The SMS method will be implemented using a commercial SMS gateway and short codes and strings will be developed.
iii) Store manager: We will present this data to the district store manager and other stakeholders - Block Health Manager, CMO, among others. We will also send periodic updates (monthly) on stock requirements. Store manager will receive the SMS from health workers and will act upon those requests. If he does not act upon within 3 days, a subsequent alert will be sent to Chief Medical Officer for him to follow up.
iv) Training: Training in SMS reporting will be provided to health workers, store managers and others involved in supply chain management.
v) Community involvement: Despite this intervention, there is a need for the beneficiary to be able to report stock out status. Using the SMS gateway or direct call, they can register complaints. We intend to publicise this intervention and provision of complaints through wall painting. We would also like to distribute a printed list of essential medicines that should be available with the health workers and facilities among the entire population in the project site.
En quoi votre initiative est-elle innovante ? Dans quelle mesure apporte-elle une contribution originale dans son domaine ?
1. Compared to traditional system: There are significant improvements over the traditional systems, in areas of a) near accurate prediction of stock requirements, b) (almost) real time communication of current stock status, c) faster order for fresh stock, d) ability to act upon precise and actionable information for stock manager and health workers, e) supervisors can check and follow up on supplies and f) community can monitor and complaint on non-availability of essential medicines.
2. Compared to other mHealth: Population Service International (PSI-India, Rajasthan) implemented SMS reporting of condom sales and stock status by their sales persons. However, sales persons in private sector are motivated by their incentives. In public sector, motivation does not come automatically, unless there is a proper system to hold one accountable. Therefore, the real innovation is in business process, rather than introduction of the SMS technology.
3. Involvement of community: To our knowledge, there is another initiative called Stop Stock Out (http://stopstockouts.org) in Africa. This works in campaign mode in which community members and NGO workers randomly check medicine availability in stores and report in a web-based forms. In the proposed method, community members can lodge complaints which will directly be sent to the concerned officials.
A quel étape votre projet en est-il ?
Étape conceptuelle
Comment décririez-vous la population auprès de laquelle vous travaillez ? Parlez-nous, par exemple, de la situation économique, des structures politiques, des normes et des valeurs, de l'évolution démographique, de l'histoire ou des précédentes expériences d'engagement communautaire.
We intend to implement this idea in a rural and tribal community where mobile network is available. The project site will be one of the KbK districts. The members of tribal community are mostly (95%) live in below poverty line and depend upon agriculture, forest, handicrafts for livelihoods.
We are strongly connected through community based organizations (CBOs) and health officers in number of locales in the proposed districts. In the past, we have undertaken several field studies involving health workers in this area and we saw interest among health workers and communities.
Racontez l'histoire du fondateur et ce qui l'a inspiré à démarrer ce projet
Founder:
The founder has undertaken major research projects in the area of using mobile communication for improving rural health delivery and uptake. He pointed out structural limitations and barriers in the traditional methods of health delivery and promotion, especially in developing countries. He provided with evidence how these barriers can be significantly reduced with the appropriate usage of information and communication technologies. He studied information management and e-Governance from EPFL. He intends to demonstrate this idea for all the stakeholders for further scaling up across societies.
Co-founder:
He received Master of Technology in Computer Science with specialization Software Project Management (SPM) from Utkal University (Bhubaneswar, India). He received post graduate degree in business administration with dual specialization of Enterprise resource planning (ERP) and human resources (HR) from Vinod Gupta School of Management, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (Kharagpur, India). He received specialized education in ERP from Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (Ahmedabad, India).
He has been working as a freelancer for software design development and deployment in various domains such as education, health care and security for 5 years (2003-2008) and started software development research and Consultancy Company as a proprietor during 2008-2009. This company was registered as private limited company in 2010.
Impact social
This Entry is about (Issues)
Décrivez les résultats positifs obtenus par votre projet ainsi que la façon dont ils sont mesurés.
We intend to use both qualitative and qualitative indicators in measuring the success of the proposed intervention. This will be done through a pre-post study. The key indicators will be:
Process improvements:
1. Improvement in time taken by the health worker send (only sending) a requisition for fresh stock;
2. Improvement in time taken in reaching (that is, send time, processing by intermediaries and final reach) the requisition to store manager;
3. Improvement in quality of processing (reading requisition, placing the order and actual supply of stock) of requisition by store manager;
4. Improvement in preparedness in stock management as a consequence of accurate estimation of stock requirements;
5. Improvement in capacity of health workers in managing their stocks;
6. Improvement in ability of beneficiaries in lodging complaints;
7. Improvement in awareness and knowledge among community in their entitlements about medicines and supplies;
Outcome improvements:
6. Improvements in actual stock status across supplies categories;
7. Improvements in community knowledge about their access to medicines;
8. Improvement among health workers in managing stock more efficiently, with lesser effort
Combien de personnes ont été touchées par votre projet ?
Entre 1 001 et 10 000
Combien de personnes pourraient être touchées par votre projet au cours des trois prochaines années ?
Plus de 10,000
Les projets gagnants possèdent un programme solide indiquant leurs prévisions de croissance. Identifiez l’objectif à atteindre au bout de six mois pour accroître vos résultats.
We intend to implement this idea as a proof of concept for demonstrating the efficacy of the idea.
Tâche 1
We will select the project site and partner with concerned stakeholders. We will then undertake a formative research to identify gaps and limitations.
Tâche 2
We will develop the tools and messages in a week and field test it for another week. We will then deploy the tools through training, community advocacy.
Tâche 3
At the sixth month, we will undertake an evaluation of the intervention.
Identifiez l’objectif à atteindre au bout de 12 mois.
We intend to raise additional fund to scale-up the intervention in few more blocks (20 villages) and integrate with other provider-centric components.
Tâche 1
Develop and integrate IT infrastructure and tools to facilitate demand forecasting (of medicines) in additional project sites.
Tâche 2
Provide capacity building support to supply chain managers, health workers and communities in using the system.
Tâche 3
Fund raising for undertaking further R&D for improving system efficiency and reach.
Quelle va être l'évolution de votre projet lors des trois prochaines années ?
1. We intend to integrate this component with other mHealth components. The integration can happen at the end of first year.
2. In the second year, we intend to implement the integrated model in a district, while continuing further R&D.
3. In the third year, we intend to further scale up and collaborate with other innovators who are developing advanced devices.
Viabilité
Quels sont les obstacles qui pourraient entraver la réussite de votre projet et comment comptez-vous les surmonter ?
We have found numerous SMS-based projects were undertaken and successfully carried out in various resource poor settings. We do not anticipate any programmatic, technological and cultural barriers in implementing this idea.
Quels sont vos différents partenariats ?
1. We will partner with the Department of Health and Family Welfare and National Rural Health Mission of Government of Orissa. They are primarily responsible for providing maternal and child health across rural Orissa.
2. We intend to partner with local village administration (panchayat) and community based organizations (CBOs) like self-help groups.
3. We intend to bring in a senior medicine supply specialist in Government of India as adviser to the project.
Actuellement, quel est votre budget annuel (USD) ?
Moins de $1 000
Expliquez vos choix.
We as proprietors of an IT company have conceptualized this project.
Comment pensez-vous pouvoir consolider votre projet au cours des trois prochaines années ?
Once we are able to demonstrate the effectiveness of the project in improving performance among health workforce, we will continue to add new methods and technologies in the work-flow. We are confident that this demonstration with help local and national governments to decide to support us in continuing with innovation and implementing projects in other states and scaling up the current project.
Enjeux
Quels problèmes liés à la santé et au bien-être votre projet tente-t-il de résoudre ?
Veuillez sélectionner trois réponses par ordre d'importance (notées de 1 à 3 par ordre de pertinence).
PRIMAIRE
Accès limité aux outils ou aux ressources préventives
SECONDAIRE
Accès limité à des informations et des formations sanitaires pertinentes
TERTIAIRE
Autre (veuillez spécifier)
Veuillez décrire la façon dont votre projet s'attaque spécifiquement aux problèmes cités ci-dessus.
1. Limited access to preventive tools and resources: Non-availability of medicines can deter health workers provide services to patients. The proposed intervention is aimed at ensuring that medicine supply will be based on evidence(i.e. based on demand forecasting), precise (what medicine, which quantity and where to supply) and actionable (x health worker asks y store manager) information.
2. Lack of access to targeted health information and education: In traditional method, health worker does not have any control on time, access and process of the requisition. In the proposed method, health worker and store manager can exchange information on supplies.
3. Similarly, community becomes more knowledgeable about what medicines are supposed to be available in local facilities.
De quelle façon faites-vous croître l'impact de votre organisation ou de votre projet ?
Veuillez sélectionner trois moyens potentiels par ordre d'importance (notés de 1 à 3 par ordre de pertinence).
PRIMAIRE
Croissance géographique: au sein du pays d'origine
SECONDAIRE
Renforcement de l'impact existant grâce à la mise en place de services complémentaires
TERTIAIRE
Influence sur d'autres organisations et institutions grâce à la diffusion de meilleures pratiques
Veuillez indiquer les activités actuellement en place ou devant être mises en place dans un futur proche pour stimuler votre croissance.
We intend to raise additional fund for scaling-up this proposed model.
Êtes-vous en collaboration avec : (plusieurs réponses possibles)
Organisme gouvernemental , un fournisseur de technologie, une ONG/organisation à but non lucratif, une entreprise à but lucratif.
Si oui, dans quelle mesure ces partenariats ont-ils contribué à la réussite de votre projet ?
1. We will collaborate with the government - National Rural Health Mission, Orissa (www.nrhmorissa.gov.in). The project will be carried out upon NRHM project site, protocols and HNWs. By collaborating with them, we shall also provide them with the results for the need to scale up the project.
2. We intend to collaborate with a leading medical science education and research institute in India. This institute is already providing MBBS and MD degrees, with approval from Medical Council of India (MCI). Their expertise is required to vet the health related content, alerts, ethics clearance etc.
3. We will collaborate with the panchayats of the project site.
4. We will also collaborate with local community based organization (CBO) to identify and facilitate beneficiary registration.
 | il y a 86 semaines ICT Health updated this Competition Entry. |
| il y a 86 semaines ICT Health submitted this idea. |