Healthcare commodities for emergencies in Africa: review of logistics models, suggested model and research agenda

Purpose – Enormous numbers of people suffer from the effects of disasters and humanitarian crises in Africa, including medical and healthcare emergencies. International response to the 2014–2016 Ebola pandemic in West Africa and COVID 19 pandemic vividly demonstrates the need for efficient and effec...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Seye Babatunde, Richard Oloruntoba, Kingsley Agho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing 2020-08-01
Series:Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHLSCM-09-2019-0064/full/pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850201828328734720
author Seye Babatunde
Richard Oloruntoba
Kingsley Agho
author_facet Seye Babatunde
Richard Oloruntoba
Kingsley Agho
author_sort Seye Babatunde
collection DOAJ
description Purpose – Enormous numbers of people suffer from the effects of disasters and humanitarian crises in Africa, including medical and healthcare emergencies. International response to the 2014–2016 Ebola pandemic in West Africa and COVID 19 pandemic vividly demonstrates the need for efficient and effective logistics and supply chain systems in bringing succor to impacted and vulnerable communities. This paper critically reviews the academic literature on logistics models for sourcing, delivery and distribution of medical and healthcare products for humanitarian emergencies in Africa from 1990 to 2018. The paper suggests areas for further research and proposes an effective logistics model useful for international and national humanitarian organizations as well as public health authorities in Africa and developing areas. Design/methodology/approach – The viewpoint paper draws upon a structured comprehensive and critical review of the academic literature on logistics and supply chain management and a qualitative analysis of the literature in 13 leading academic databases covering over 5,550 articles. Findings – The paper finds significant gaps in the body of logistics and supply chain management research on practical deployable logistics models for sourcing, delivery, and distribution of medical and healthcare products for humanitarian emergencies. The paper suggests a model worthy of consideration by humanitarian and disaster response stakeholders as well as public health authorities in developing countries. Research limitations/implications – This is a critical literature review paper based on a comprehensive literature research and analysis for the period from 1990 to 2018 from which a viewpoint is formed. Social implications – This paper advocates for further research on appropriate models of logistics for the sourcing, delivery and distribution of medical and healthcare products to enhance the basic human rights and dignity of vulnerable people in developing countries. Originality/value – The paper contributes directly to policy on logistics, humanitarian aid, disaster management, public health and health security policy in the developing world including Africa.
format Article
id doaj-art-8d17d76fa82145989515c6daf3a93b8d
institution OA Journals
issn 2042-6747
language English
publishDate 2020-08-01
publisher Emerald Publishing
record_format Article
series Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management
spelling doaj-art-8d17d76fa82145989515c6daf3a93b8d2025-08-20T02:11:55ZengEmerald PublishingJournal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management2042-67472020-08-0110337139010.1108/JHLSCM-09-2019-0064Healthcare commodities for emergencies in Africa: review of logistics models, suggested model and research agendaSeye Babatunde0Richard Oloruntoba1Kingsley Agho2Centre for Health and Development, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, NigeriaNewcastle Business School, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, AustraliaSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, AustraliaPurpose – Enormous numbers of people suffer from the effects of disasters and humanitarian crises in Africa, including medical and healthcare emergencies. International response to the 2014–2016 Ebola pandemic in West Africa and COVID 19 pandemic vividly demonstrates the need for efficient and effective logistics and supply chain systems in bringing succor to impacted and vulnerable communities. This paper critically reviews the academic literature on logistics models for sourcing, delivery and distribution of medical and healthcare products for humanitarian emergencies in Africa from 1990 to 2018. The paper suggests areas for further research and proposes an effective logistics model useful for international and national humanitarian organizations as well as public health authorities in Africa and developing areas. Design/methodology/approach – The viewpoint paper draws upon a structured comprehensive and critical review of the academic literature on logistics and supply chain management and a qualitative analysis of the literature in 13 leading academic databases covering over 5,550 articles. Findings – The paper finds significant gaps in the body of logistics and supply chain management research on practical deployable logistics models for sourcing, delivery, and distribution of medical and healthcare products for humanitarian emergencies. The paper suggests a model worthy of consideration by humanitarian and disaster response stakeholders as well as public health authorities in developing countries. Research limitations/implications – This is a critical literature review paper based on a comprehensive literature research and analysis for the period from 1990 to 2018 from which a viewpoint is formed. Social implications – This paper advocates for further research on appropriate models of logistics for the sourcing, delivery and distribution of medical and healthcare products to enhance the basic human rights and dignity of vulnerable people in developing countries. Originality/value – The paper contributes directly to policy on logistics, humanitarian aid, disaster management, public health and health security policy in the developing world including Africa.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHLSCM-09-2019-0064/full/pdfGlobal logisticsHealthcare logisticsPandemicHumanitarian logisticsHumanitarian emergenciesLogistics models
spellingShingle Seye Babatunde
Richard Oloruntoba
Kingsley Agho
Healthcare commodities for emergencies in Africa: review of logistics models, suggested model and research agenda
Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Global logistics
Healthcare logistics
Pandemic
Humanitarian logistics
Humanitarian emergencies
Logistics models
title Healthcare commodities for emergencies in Africa: review of logistics models, suggested model and research agenda
title_full Healthcare commodities for emergencies in Africa: review of logistics models, suggested model and research agenda
title_fullStr Healthcare commodities for emergencies in Africa: review of logistics models, suggested model and research agenda
title_full_unstemmed Healthcare commodities for emergencies in Africa: review of logistics models, suggested model and research agenda
title_short Healthcare commodities for emergencies in Africa: review of logistics models, suggested model and research agenda
title_sort healthcare commodities for emergencies in africa review of logistics models suggested model and research agenda
topic Global logistics
Healthcare logistics
Pandemic
Humanitarian logistics
Humanitarian emergencies
Logistics models
url https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHLSCM-09-2019-0064/full/pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT seyebabatunde healthcarecommoditiesforemergenciesinafricareviewoflogisticsmodelssuggestedmodelandresearchagenda
AT richardoloruntoba healthcarecommoditiesforemergenciesinafricareviewoflogisticsmodelssuggestedmodelandresearchagenda
AT kingsleyagho healthcarecommoditiesforemergenciesinafricareviewoflogisticsmodelssuggestedmodelandresearchagenda