Areas of Expertise

The WDI Healthcare Research Initiative has several foundational areas of expertise outlined below.  In addition to these areas of expertise, the initiative frequently readjusts its focus to areas of policy work where our unique competencies can make the largest impact. 

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PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPLY CHAINS:

The WDI Healthcare Research Initiative focuses on private sector supply chains, which have often been neglected and considered “black-boxes” by many international organizations and policy makers.  Evidence shows that population groups from all socioeconomic backgrounds including the poorest-of-the-poor turn to the private sector for their healthcare needs. Ensuring the availability of high quality medicines and health products in the private sector is thus an important public health goal.

Through mapping exercises and field experiments the WDI Healthcare Research Initiative has developed a robust understanding of private sector medicine wholesaling and retailing operations in low and middle-income countries. The initiative's extensive knowledge base and ongoing research helps identify interventions that improve public health outcomes through the private sector supply chain with minimal investments.

PUBLIC SECTOR MEDICINE AND VACCINE SUPPLY SYSTEMS:

The healthcare initiative identifies innovative technologies and best practices from private sector supply systems that have the potential to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the public sector medicine and vaccine supply systems. The initiative facilitates the transfer of these best practices in to the public sector supply chains through carefully designed pilot projects. We help evaluate the role and impact of information technology, organizational metrics, supply chain structure and outcome based incentives in public sector supply systems.

HEALTH PRODUCT MARKET DYNAMICS & FORECASTING:

Healthy and well-functioning supply markets for drugs, vaccines and other health products are key to achieving public health outcomes efficiently. Lack of accurate demand forecasts, too few suppliers, limited production capacity, and antiquated procurement mechanisms often create market inefficiencies for global health products. The WDI Healthcare Initiative has strong expertise in forecasting the global demand for healthcare products where the financing comes from multiple international sources. The initiative's research also analyzes supply market structure, nature of procurement contracts and their impact on price and availability of global health products.

SUPPLY PROGRAM DESIGN & EVALUATION:

The WDI Healthcare Research Initiative also works with international agencies and philanthropic organizations to define strategic metrics related to supply chain management for global or in-country programs. The initiative helps create an evidence-based understanding of the role of supply chain visibility, delivery costing models and organizational structuring. In some instances we also carry out evaluation studies for development programs that have a strong product supply component.

 

For more information on this field of healthcare research, please also see: 

 

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