South Sudan

The South Sudan Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Supplies, within the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Central Medical Stores (CMS) are responsible for leading the selection and quantification of public sector pharmaceuticals and supplies, managing the procurement of health commodities, and overseeing storage and distribution of these commodities to counties and health facilities. These two government bodies work closely with the health programs within the MOH as well as donors and implementing partners (IP) to achieve their respective objectives.  

The MOH aims to develop the supply chain from the bottom-up, enabling more cooperation and coordination among donors and implementing partners to move toward a more sustainable and integrated supply chain – one in which the MOH plays a leading role. The USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project takes a measured approach to integration, seeking ways to enable central-level authorities to assume more control of the supply chain, helping them to better use data for decision-making, and re-establishing their coordinating role through entities like the Pharmaceutical Technical Working Group (PTWG).   

The overall goal is to improve product availability and stock status of key family planning commodities within the reproductive health program, focusing on collecting key data to support proper allocation to health facilities as well as nationwide quantification and procurement. Where possible, GHSC-PSM also works to strengthen systems while adhering to all USAID guidelines and U.S. government laws pertaining to development assistance. 

Key activities in South Sudan include:

• Conducted a stock survey, gathering baseline data on stock status of selected commodities, advising on possible changes to inventory control, and providing guidance on national quantification and procurement planning with donors
• Provided support to the LMU in its role as an information clearinghouse for the supply chain and of advising the PTWG; provide logistical support to reinstate and revitalize the PTWG
• Improved the functionality and usefulness of the supply chain dashboard for reporting, first improving the process for HIV/AIDs commodities and then expanding to malaria commodities
• Based on survey findings and operations research, made needed adjustments to existing forms, tools, and training for record-keeping and inventory control at health facilities
• Improve family planning commodity forecasting, supply planning, and integration of ordering/warehousing and distribution to ensure contraceptive security

GHSC-PSM in South Sudan supports efforts to increase access to family planning commodities for women and girls across the country by creating data visibility and transparency, improving stock status and product availability through vendor-managed inventory,and leveraging implementing partner resources and capabilities.