title: Improving iSC performance through outsourcing - Considerations for using third-party service providers to increase innovation, capacity and efficiency.
abstract: Development partners and donors have encouraged and incentivized governments in developing countries to explore ways of working with third-party service suppliers to reduce costs and increase service delivery capacity. The distribution of vaccines and medicines has for a long time shown demand for outsourcing but public health systems have struggled to develop the expertise and capital assets necessary to manage such ventures. Existing transport and logistics capacity within public health systems, in particular, is well documented as being insufficient to support existing, let alone future immunization needs. Today, a number of countries are contracting party logistics providers (3PLs) to supplement the in-house distribution operations of public health systems. This commentary reflects on recent, leading examples of outsourcing initiatives to address critical gaps in transport and logistics.
authors.affiliation: (a)Transaid, 137 Euston Road, London NW1 2AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: (a)Transaid, 137 Euston Road, London NW1 2AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.affiliation: VillageReach, 2900 Eastlake Ave. E., Suite 230, Seattle WA 98102, USA. Electronic address: john.beale@villagereach.org.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beale
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D009934:Organization and Administration; D020416:Outsourced Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011635:Public Health Administration; D014612:Vaccines / Q000600:supply & distribution*
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines
keywords: Distribution; Logistics; Outsourcing; Pharmaceutical; Supply chain; Vaccine