The New Public Health Pharmacy of Côte d'Ivoire (NPSP-CI) has initiated a three-day immersion program at Cocody's University Hospital (CHU) from November 4 to 6, 2026. This program, themed "NPSP-CI at Your Service," aims to bridge the gap between the central purchasing body and healthcare professionals. By doing so, NPSP-CI seeks to better understand their needs and tailor its supplies to match hospital prescription realities. This move is crucial in ensuring the availability of medications in healthcare facilities, which is a significant challenge in providing quality patient care.
The initiative is part of NPSP-CI's strategy to enhance its supply chain by gaining a deeper understanding of the needs expressed on the ground. Over the past six months, the organization has engaged in multiple working sessions and technical groups with the general management of NPSP-CI, medical directors of national public establishments (EPN), and pharmacy heads. These discussions have led to a new quantification of pharmaceutical needs in healthcare facilities, covering several hundred references. The current immersion program aims to validate these data against actual prescription practices.
At the opening of the immersion program, NPSP-CI's General Director, Dr. Kouyaté Ibrahim, emphasized that this approach is essential in aligning purchasing data with actual prescription needs and medical practices. He highlighted that ensuring continuous medication availability relies heavily on the accuracy of data related to prescribed products, consumption habits, and required quantities in healthcare structures. The goal is to make data-driven purchasing decisions that cater to the actual needs of the population.
Digitalization is a key component of NPSP-CI's strategy to improve performance. Dr. Kouyaté Ibrahim stressed the importance of digitalizing the supply chain using tools like the m-Supply software. This tool is expected to enhance the reliability of prescription and consumption data while improving the traceability of pharmaceutical products from procurement to delivery to patients. By doing so, NPSP-CI aims to increase transparency in stock management, particularly for state-subsidized medications.
The digitalization process will enable NPSP-CI to dispose of qualitative and reliable data on prescribed products and average monthly consumption. This information is crucial for the central purchasing body to make efficient and needs-adapted purchases. Furthermore, enhanced traceability will help minimize stockouts, prevent losses due to expired products, and ensure that medications reach their intended beneficiaries.
Dr. Kouyaté Ibrahim also encouraged healthcare professionals to identify "tracer" products, which are essential medications for patient care, especially in emergency situations. He emphasized the importance of timely and effective care, questioning how to guarantee efficient treatment upon a patient's arrival in a critical condition. Additionally, he invited prescribers to communicate their specific needs and contribute to the progressive harmonization of prescriptions in international common denomination (DCI).
Looking ahead, Dr. Kouyaté Ibrahim noted that medication availability and accessibility are priorities for Ivoirian authorities, particularly in the context of Universal Health Coverage (CMU). He mentioned the state's decision to settle the debt of suppliers to the central purchasing body, a move that should enable NPSP-CI to better meet its obligations and focus on its mission to provide pharmaceutical products to healthcare facilities.
Key points
- NPSP-CI is hosting immersion days at Cocody's University Hospital to enhance partnerships with healthcare professionals and tailor its supplies to match hospital prescription realities.
- The organization aims to digitalize its supply chain using tools like the m-Supply software to improve data reliability and product traceability.
- The initiative seeks to ensure continuous medication availability in healthcare facilities, a priority for Ivoirian authorities in the context of Universal Health Coverage.
