Authors :
Mohammed Ali; Abubakari Abdul Ganiu Konla; Rashid Bawumia Ali; Mashud Mohammed Alhassan; Adam Haliq
Volume/Issue :
Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 12 - December
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/45p9udf5
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/29s7x564
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25dec1487
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
In this study, a technology-enabled medicine delivery system was evaluated to assess its effectiveness on
performance, service utilization, and service reliability in the context in rural healthcare facilities in the Northern
Region of Ghana. Data were collected were at baseline and at six, 12, 24, and 36 months through structured
observation checklists and interviews with health workers and community-based drivers. Quantitative indicators
included delivery timeliness, medicine availability, stock-out cases, patient service utilization, and volume of urgent
medicines distributed, whereas qualitative interviews examined operational realities such as terrain obstacles, cold-
chain maintenance, and community perception. Results indicated significant improvements within intervention
districts versus comparison arms. Delivery intervals declined from 21 days at baseline to 10–12 days at 24 months,
and 92% of facilities reported timely deliveries at 36 months (p < 0.01). Stock-outs of oxytocin and magnesium sulfate
decreased from 48 percent to less than 10 percent (p < 0.001), and average monthly maternal health visits rose 69
percent (p < 0.01). Volumes of oxytocin, magnesium sulfate, oral rehydration salts, zinc, antimalarials, antibiotics,
and EPI vaccines were more than doubled throughout the study period. The real-time reporting adoption was
increased to 95 percent, meaning more accountability (p < 0.001). Technology-enabled delivery systems can fill
persistent gaps in the rural supply chain, contribute to service utilization, and promote accountability, concludes the
study. The findings present empirical evidence to promote scaling of novel health systems models in Ghana’s health
system with limits of reliance on facility records and district-specific contexts and recommendations.
Keywords :
Supply Chain Performance, Medicine Availability, Maternal Health Utilization, Accountability and Technology‐Enabled Delivery.
References :
- Adam, H. (2025). Transforming rural health systems through innovative supply chain solutions: A case from Northern Ghana. Catholic Relief Services Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.ccih.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CCIH-2025-4B-Haliq-Adam.pdf
- Amukele, T., Ness, P. M., Tobian, A. A., Boyd, J., & Street, J. (2018). Drone transportation of blood products. Transfusion, 58(6), 1404–1408. https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.14578
- Anarwat, S. G., Salifu, M., & Akuriba, M. A. (2021). Equity and access to maternal and child health services in Ghana: A cross-sectional study. BMC Health Services Research, 21(864). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06872-9
- Asante, A., Zwi, A., & Ho, M. T. (2020). Vaccine distribution in Ghana: Challenges and opportunities for strengthening supply chains. Global Health Action, 13(1), 170–178. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2020.170
- Atiga, B., et al. (2023). Challenges of medical commodity availability in public and private health care facilities in the Upper East Region of Ghana: A patient-centered perspective. BMC Health Services Research. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09717-9
- Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
- Mikkelsen-Lopez, I., Shango, W., Barrington, J., & Mukasa, B. (2014). Supply chain innovations for essential medicines in Tanzania and Malawi. Health Policy and Planning, 29(3), 342–350. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czt023
- Ministry of Health. (2022). 2022–2030 National Essential Health Services Package Ghana. Government of Ghana. Retrieved from https://r4d.org/wp-content/uploads/MoH-NHESP-Report-Design_Final-Dec-22.pdf
- Ministry of Health. (2022). Ministry of Health launches GhiLMIS to improve supply chain in the health sector. Government of Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.moh.gov.gh/ministry-of-health-launches-ghilmis-to-improve-supply-chain-in-the-health-sector/
- Ministry of Health. (2025). Ghana Health Supply Chain Master Plan (2025–2029). Government of Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.moh.gov.gh/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Ghana_HSCMP_2025-2029_Final-Print-Version_17January2025.pdf
- Okeke, I. N., Lamikanra, A., & Edelman, R. (2019). Socioeconomic impact of medicine diversion in Nigeria and Uganda. Social Science & Medicine, 228, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.03.012
- RHSC. (2019). End-to-end visibility in Ghana: Supply chain master plan. Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition. Retrieved from https://www.rhsupplies.org/uploads/tx_rhscpublications/Ghana_01.pdf
- Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). Free Press.
- Tumwekwasize, F. B. (2025, April 25). Ghana partners with Zipline to strengthen health supply chain amid USAID disruption. LinkedIn Pulse. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ghana-partners-zipline-strengthen-health-supply-chain-francis-jqscf
- World Health Organization. (2017). WHO model list of essential medicines. World Health Organization.
- World Health Organization. (2025). WHO supports Ghana’s Ministry of Health to strengthen access to medicines through the review of the national medicines policy. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.afro.who.int/countries/ghana/news/who-supports-ghanas-ministry-health-strengthen-access-medicines-through-review-national-medicines
In this study, a technology-enabled medicine delivery system was evaluated to assess its effectiveness on
performance, service utilization, and service reliability in the context in rural healthcare facilities in the Northern
Region of Ghana. Data were collected were at baseline and at six, 12, 24, and 36 months through structured
observation checklists and interviews with health workers and community-based drivers. Quantitative indicators
included delivery timeliness, medicine availability, stock-out cases, patient service utilization, and volume of urgent
medicines distributed, whereas qualitative interviews examined operational realities such as terrain obstacles, cold-
chain maintenance, and community perception. Results indicated significant improvements within intervention
districts versus comparison arms. Delivery intervals declined from 21 days at baseline to 10–12 days at 24 months,
and 92% of facilities reported timely deliveries at 36 months (p < 0.01). Stock-outs of oxytocin and magnesium sulfate
decreased from 48 percent to less than 10 percent (p < 0.001), and average monthly maternal health visits rose 69
percent (p < 0.01). Volumes of oxytocin, magnesium sulfate, oral rehydration salts, zinc, antimalarials, antibiotics,
and EPI vaccines were more than doubled throughout the study period. The real-time reporting adoption was
increased to 95 percent, meaning more accountability (p < 0.001). Technology-enabled delivery systems can fill
persistent gaps in the rural supply chain, contribute to service utilization, and promote accountability, concludes the
study. The findings present empirical evidence to promote scaling of novel health systems models in Ghana’s health
system with limits of reliance on facility records and district-specific contexts and recommendations.
Keywords :
Supply Chain Performance, Medicine Availability, Maternal Health Utilization, Accountability and Technology‐Enabled Delivery.