Supply Chain Visibility, Supply Chain Collaboration, and Supply Chain Performance in Ugandan Pharmacies During Covid-19

Abstract

Supply chain management is important World over since it provides guidance in material flow with an optimum cost and time generally. Many sectors focus on supply chain management optimization and qualifications to construct a better network of suppliers for their end consumers. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role of efficient and resilient healthcare supply chains in ensuring the availability of essential medications and medical supplies. This study aims to investigate the relationships between supply chain visibility, supply chain collaboration, and healthcare supply chain performance in Ugandan pharmacies during the COVID-19 crisis. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data was collected using self-administered questionnaires. The study population consisted of 298 pharmacies, particularly wholesalers, in Kampala district, with a sample size of 168 respondents. Simple random sampling was employed to select the sample from pharmaceutical companies
in Kampala. Data collected was processed, analyzed using the 23.0 version of Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), and descriptive and inferential statistics were obtained. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between study variables, while regression analysis was conducted to assess the predictive capacity of supply chain visibility and collaboration on healthcare supply chain performance.

Keywords: Health and Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Visibility, Supply Chain Collaboration, Healthcare Supply Chain Performance, Uganda, COVID-19