This report provides a comprehensive overview of the routine distribution of medicines and supplies to PUHMED Member facilities by Real Health Uganda (RHU) for the period of July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. During this period, RHU successfully distributed essential medicines to 35 health centers, ensuring that they had the necessary resources to provide quality healthcare to their communities. The distribution was conducted in phases throughout the year, reflecting RHU’s commitment to continuous support for its member facilities.

Introduction

Real Health Uganda (RHU) continues to play a vital role in enhancing healthcare delivery across Uganda through its PUHMED program. This program supports member health centers by providing essential medicines and medical supplies on a quarterly basis. Eligible PUHMED Member facilities can request these supplies through the RQ04 form available on the RHU website. The distribution of these medicines is either facilitated through RHU’s regional offices or coordinated for pickup by the member facilities.

This report outlines the distribution activities carried out from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, highlighting the health centers that received support, the process followed, and the impact of these distributions.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the medicines and supplies distribution were:

  1. Ensure Continuous Healthcare Delivery: To maintain a consistent supply of essential medicines to PUHMED Member facilities, enabling them to deliver uninterrupted healthcare services.
  2. Support Health Centers in Need: To prioritize health centers that demonstrated a significant need for medicines and supplies based on their requests.
  3. Strengthen Health System Resilience: To reinforce the capacity of health centers to respond to healthcare challenges, particularly in underserved areas.

Distribution Process

The distribution of medicines and supplies was conducted in the following steps:

  1. Request Submission: PUHMED Member facilities were required to submit their requests for medicines and supplies through the RQ04 form on the RHU website. Requests were reviewed and validated by the RHU team to ensure they met the eligibility criteria.
  2. Allocation of Medicines: Once requests were approved, RHU allocated medicines and supplies based on the needs of each facility, ensuring that the most critical requirements were met first.
  3. Distribution Phases: Medicines and supplies were distributed in phases over the course of the year, rather than in a single batch. This approach allowed RHU to manage resources effectively and respond to changing needs throughout the year.
  4. Delivery and Pickup: The distribution was facilitated through RHU’s regional offices, where medicines were either delivered directly to the health centers or made available for pickup by the facilities. This flexible approach ensured that medicines reached the facilities in a timely manner.

Health Centers Supported

During the reporting period, 35 health centers received medicines and supplies from RHU. These centers were located across various regions, reflecting the geographic diversity of RHU’s support network. The health centers were not all supported at the same time, with distributions spread across the quarters to address specific needs as they arose.

Challenges Faced

Several challenges were encountered during the distribution process:

  • Logistical Constraints: The phased distribution approach required careful coordination to ensure timely delivery, particularly in remote areas where transportation is difficult.
  • Request Management: Some health centers faced challenges in submitting their requests on time, leading to delays in receiving their supplies.
  • Supply Chain Disruptions: Occasional disruptions in the supply chain, including delays from suppliers, impacted the ability to deliver medicines as scheduled.

Impact and Outcomes

The distribution of medicines and supplies had a significant positive impact on the health centers and the communities they serve:

  • Improved Healthcare Access: The availability of essential medicines allowed health centers to provide a broader range of services, improving healthcare access for patients.
  • Enhanced Capacity to Treat Patients: Health centers reported increased capacity to treat patients, particularly for common illnesses such as malaria, respiratory infections, and maternal health needs.
  • Strengthened Health Systems: The consistent supply of medicines contributed to the resilience of health systems in the supported areas, enabling them to better respond to healthcare challenges.

Financial Overview

The financial management of the distribution process was conducted with transparency and accountability. Funds were allocated to procure medicines and supplies, manage logistics, and support the operations of the regional offices. A detailed breakdown of expenditures is provided in the financial annex of this report.

Recommendations

Based on the experience of the past year, the following recommendations are made to improve future distributions:

  • Enhanced Communication: Strengthen communication channels with health centers to ensure timely submission of requests and better coordination during distributions.
  • Supply Chain Optimization: Explore strategies to optimize the supply chain and reduce delays, particularly in remote areas.
  • Capacity Building: Provide training to health center staff on how to effectively manage and report on the use of distributed medicines and supplies.

Conclusion

The annual distribution of medicines and supplies to PUHMED Member facilities for the period of July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, was a critical intervention that supported 35 health centers in delivering essential healthcare services. While challenges were encountered, the overall impact was positive, with significant improvements in healthcare access and capacity. Real Health Uganda remains committed to supporting its member facilities and will continue to refine and enhance its distribution processes in the coming year.