Determinants of Effective Implementation of Procurement Systems for Reproductive Health Supplies: A Case of Kenya Medical Supplies Authority

Abstract

Health systems strengthening (HSS) is high on the agenda of donors, governments and other stakeholders in the health sector, especially in fragile states, where the government is either not able or not willing to deliver core services to the majority of its people. In these states, the challenge to meet the health MDGs and provide the population with sustainable and equitable health services is far greater than in other developing countries. In these contexts, improving health service delivery not only stands to make significant gains in overall population health indicators, but also has the potential to contribute to reducing state fragility. To have this, an effective procurement system is mandatory. The current study established the factors influencing successful implementation of effective procurement systems for procurement of reproductive health supplies at Kenya Medical Supplies Authority. The study specifically sought to establish the influence of technical capacity, institutional infrastructure, financing and legal and regulatory environments on implementation of effective procurement systems of reproductive health supplies at Kenya Medical Supplies Authority. The target population for this study was employees in lower, middle and top management positions in procurement, warehousing, distribution and operation departments at KEMSA. A total of 116 employees from the lower, middle and top management positions in procurement, warehousing, distribution and operation departments comprising of supervisors, team leaders, managers and assistant managers. The results indicated that all the variables tested, that is, technical capacity of procurement personnel, institutional infrastructure, and financing and legal and regulatory environment affect effective procurement. The study recommends that the government and other policy makers in the Ministry of health, KEMSA and other public institutions should formulate policies that would enhance the procurement of not only reproductive health supplies but also other goods by the government.

Keywords: Technical capacity, Institutional infrastructure, Financing, Legal and regulatory environments