Browsing by Author "Olonyi, Barbara A."

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Assessment of procurement strategies in supply chain performance of pharmaceutical organizations in Kenya
(KCA University, 2025) Olonyi, Barbara A.
The performance of the healthcare supply chain is critical in ensuring the availability, affordability, and accessibility of essential medicines and medical supplies. An efficient healthcare supply chain minimizes stockouts, reduces procurement costs, and enhances service delivery in healthcare facilities. The study examined the procurement strategies in supply chain performance of pharmaceutical organizations in Kenya. The study specific objectives were; centralized procurement strategy, supplier selection strategy, just-in-time strategy, and e-procurement strategy. The study was anchored on transaction cost theory, resource-based view theory, systems theory, and innovation diffusion theory, the study adopts a descriptive research design. The target population comprised registered pharmaceutical organizations in Kenya, with a census sampling technique applied to a sample of 65 employees. Data was collected using closed-ended questionnaires through a drop-and-pick method. Analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, with findings presented in tables and graphs to provide clear insights into procurement strategies and their impact on supply chain performance. The study findings show that centralized procurement improves supply chain performance by creating uniform standards, reducing duplication, and ensuring better quality control of medical supplies. Supplier selection was also found to be vital, with compliance to regulations, reliability, and timely delivery emerging as key factors in enhancing efficiency and patient safety. Just-in-Time strategy further contributed by minimizing wastage, reducing lead times, and ensuring timely availability of essential medicines. E-procurement strengthened transparency and accountability while improving order tracking and efficiency, though its effectiveness depended on adequate training and technical support. The study concluded that centralized procurement is the most influential strategy, driving efficiency, cost savings, and quality improvements through uniform standards, economies of scale, and better forecasting. Supplier selection was also found to be essential, as reliable and compliant suppliers enhance product quality, patient safety, and overall operational efficiency. Just-in-Time procurement strengthened responsiveness by reducing lead times, minimizing wastage, and ensuring timely medicine availability, though its success relies on dependable supplier networks. E-procurement further improved compliance, transparency, and monitoring, making it a key strategy for modernizing and strengthening pharmaceutical supply chains in Kenya. The study recommended that pharmaceutical organizations in Kenya strengthen centralized procurement by adopting uniform contracts, pooling demand, and improving monitoring to ensure efficiency, cost savings, and reliability. It further advised enhancing supplier selection through stricter vetting, performance-based contracts, and collaboration with regulators to improve quality and timely delivery. The adoption of Just-in-Time systems was also recommended, supported by real-time inventory tools, flexible delivery schedules, and staff training to minimize wastage and improve responsiveness. Expanding e-procurement use with better integration, staff support, and automated compliance checks was highlighted as a key step toward greater transparency, accountability, and timely medicine supply.