Humanitarian Supply Management and Logistics in the Health Sector

The management of supplies, whether or not from an external source, in most cases is a complex logistical problem that should not be left to improvised decision-making. The acquisition, storage, mobilization and distribution of supplies to the victims of a disaster require a minimum framework of organization that permits efficient handling and better use of resources. This book provides guidelines to manage this process. It points out that countries and organizations should incorporate the topic of logistics into their planning and preparedness for disasters. It also underlines the fact that each step in the supply chain should be seen as a critical and interrelated link. Published jointly by PAHO and WHO, this book is the result of many years of practical experience (especially thanks to the use of the SUMA methodology). Despite the fact that it places emphasis on drugs and pharmaceutical supplies, the techniques and procedures that it proposes are multisectoral in nature and can be used in any type of emergency operation.