Jamaica

In January 2017, the Jamaica Ministry of Health (MOH) requested USAID technical assistance in several priority supply chain management areas following the completion of a national supply chain assessment conducted in September 2016. As part of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Caribbean Regional Operational Plan, Jamaica is also striving to implement the World Health Organization’s “Test and Start” recommendation for all patients to begin on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy immediately after an HIV-positive diagnosis, regardless of their viral load or CD4 cell count. Key supply chain challenges need to be addressed to prepare for a successful transition to Test and Start.

Public sector procurement regulations and processes in Jamaica are leading to long lead times which contribute to significant challenges with the stock availability of key adult first line drugs. In addition, the relatively low quantities of second and third line drugs required in country are too low to generate purchasing power with suppliers, leading to higher pricing and inefficient supply and delivery. There is a risk that this situation will be exacerbated by increased need for ARV procurement under the new Test and Start guidelines. To help meet some of these challenges, the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management project (GHSC-PSM) is collaborating with the MOH to help improve forecasting and quantification techniques for HIV commodities.

• antiretrovirals (ARVs)

Key activities in Jamaica include:

• Meet with the MOH and other stakeholders to explore priority supply chain strengthening actions and inform future work planning
• Review and update the Clinton Health Access Initiative tool which the MOH Treatment Care & Support unit currently uses for annual forecasting of ARVs
• Introduce USAID’s PIPELINE tool to improve the MOH’s supply planning capacity. This would enable the MOH to undertake monthly/quarterly updates using inventory levels from their central warehouse.

GHSC-PSM will seek to increase collaboration with Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization; the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV & AIDS PANCAP); the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and UNAIDS to strengthen the supply chain for HIV/AIDS commodities in preparation for the “Test and Start” approach to managing HIV.