News/Events

WDI, LMI Team Up On Paper

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

The use of more strategic contracting practices could result in substantial improvements in procurement efficiency and health commodity availability in developing countries, according to an article written by two members of the WDI Healthcare Research Initiative, along two supply chain experts from the government consulting firm LMI.

The article, “Strategic contracting practices to improve procurement of health commodities,” was published in the journal Global Health: Science and Practice. WDI’s Prashant Yadav and Leslie Arney, along with LMI’s Taylor Wilkerson and Roger Miller, maintain that pre-established framework agreements, which are commonly used in U.S. and United Nations procurement systems, represent an opportunity for public-sector procuring entities of developing countries to maintain procurement flexibility while achieving greater supply security.

Many developing countries employ the practice of floating annual procurement tenders for health commodities, which can contribute to increased costs, long lead times and potential stock-outs. It also hampers a supplier’s ability to plan and respond to the needs of a country’s procurement body.

The article, funded through the LMI Research Institute, is the latest work from LMI’s Academic Partnership program, which bridges the gap between academia and industry to create innovative solutions and explore new research topics.

“This article is a great example of the symbiotic research relationship we strive to create with our academic partners,” LMI Research Institute manager Brennan Hogan said. “Working with experts, such as Ms. Arney and Dr. Yadav, lends a new perspective to LMI’s understanding of public health procurement processes, and a deeper, broader comprehension of the emerging challenges facing this field. In turn, LMI’s thought leaders are able to share with academic experts our unique perspective on problems we’ve identified as areas for improvement within government, both at home and abroad.”

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