WISE-Ethiopia: Workforce, Information Systems, and Supply Chain Optimization to Strengthen Primary Healthcare in Ethiopia

Teferi Gedif of Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia will use health and economic data modeling to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of primary healthcare in Ethiopia through enhancements in the supply chain, health information system, and workforce distribution. Current challenges include inaccurate forecasting leading to shortages and wastage of healthcare commodities, lack of interoperability between patient and healthcare commodity information systems, poor implementation and integration of community-based and social health insurance schemes, and fragmented workflow with poorly matched workforce in terms of number of workers and their training. The models will identify key bottlenecks and inefficiencies. In collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, these results will be used to design evidence-based guidelines and protocols for improved primary healthcare service delivery. They will pilot test the proposed strategies in two regions of the country.