Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease and a community health issue in over 100 nations world-wide. About one million deaths each year are caused by it; most of them are children under the age of five in Sub-Saharan Africa. The tragedy is that most of the deaths are preventable. Drugs to heal the disease exist, yet they do not arrive at the demand where it occur and stock-outs of drugs to treat malaria cost lives. Jim Barrington, the former chief information officer (CIO) at Novartis and present manager of the SMS for Life project, had been attempting to solve the problem since 2006, when he first heard about the "last mile" issue from Silvio Gabriel, executive vice president (EVP), Novartis Malaria Initiatives. The case talks about how he approached the supply chain problem and established a public-private partnership to develop an easy solution suitable for the tough African surroundings.
A data management system with a treatment interface using graphs supplied stock level information from all facilities to facilitate supply and stock movement, in addition to improving stock planning and forecasting. The case describes the process of developing and implementing the option through a pilot in three districts in Tanzania. The pilot was successful and the case ends with the question the way to advance a country-wide and even a pan-African roll-out. The Learning objectives: There are three learning objectives, and behaviors to teach the case: 1) To converse a fresh, collaborative manner, involving private and public companies (and compare it other available strategies), to solve world wide issues, which need alternatives beyond the capacities and responsibilities of single players. 2) How simple technology, e.g. based on accessible mobile phone networks, can solve supply chain issues in most challenging environments. 3) How outside collaborations can bring innovation into well established transnational players, and have a potential impact on their business model.
PUBLICATION DATE: August 30, 2010 PRODUCT #: IMD582-HCB-ENG
This is just an excerpt. This case is about LEADERSHIP & MANAGING PEOPLE
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