Uganda Strengthening Supply Chain Systems Activity

Uganda Roadmap launch event

Uganda Celebrates Progress Made in First Year of Roadmap Launch

In January 2022, the Ugandan government set out to establish a modern, country-led health supply chain system with the launch of its 10-year National Health Supply Chain Roadmap. Developed with support from the USAID Uganda Strengthening Supply Chain Systems Activity, the roadmap takes a “one-government” approach to promote capacity strengthening and improve existing processes and resources. In just the first year of the roadmap’s implementation, the country has taken significant steps forward to achieve this vision and improve health outcomes for all Ugandans.

Overview

The USAID-funded Uganda Strengthening Supply Chain Systems (SSCS) Technical Assistance Activity supports Uganda’s efforts to strengthen its health supply chain to increase availability and access to safe, quality-assured medicines and health supplies in public and private nonprofit health facilities. Further accelerating Uganda’s journey to self-reliance, SSCS will strengthen Uganda’s health system to more effectively combat infectious and non-communicable diseases and improve health services and outcomes for all Ugandan families and communities.

Following the successful implementation of the Uganda Health Supply Chain (UHSC) and Securing Ugandans’ Right to Essential Medicines (SURE) projects, SSCS builds upon nearly two decades of partnership with USAID and the Government of Uganda in strengthening the country’s pharmaceutical sector. Under SSCS, MSH will help Uganda improve the performance of key actors throughout the supply chain; advance transparent governance and effective, data-informed policies and regulations; and strengthen local capacity to promote self-reliance in managing a world-class supply chain. SSCS will also provide technical assistance to all US government partners—USAID, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Department of Defense (DOD)—operating at the subnational level and help to improve the capacity of central-level institutions and district-based entities, such as health offices, health facilities, and medical stores.

In implementing SSCS, MSH will partner with and build the capacity of two local Ugandan organizations: the Uganda Healthcare Federation (UHF) and Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE). These collaborators will gradually take on increased technical and management responsibilities as part of a deliberate strategy to promote local ownership and sustainability.