Helena Buckley, senior director of leadership development from J&J SC said, “Last-mile challenges, such as a lack of trained healthcare professionals and inadequate infrastructure, are significant barriers to getting health products to people in many LMICs. But through this partnership with PtD, and by giving this opportunity to Douglas, Claudette, and others, we’re helping to sustainably develop supply chains and the people that make them function.”
The STAR program is proven in developing top talent and since 2016 has seen 400 participants from over four regions pass through its doors. And the inclusion of public health SC managers from LMICs in this initiative is part of J&J’s wider global public health SC strategy, through which it works in close partnership with local governments and NGOs to develop programs designed to improve access to healthcare for vulnerable communities throughout Africa.
What’s more the program, and in particular the action learning project, will help to identify the best private sector SC practices to strengthen public sector SCs and at the same time determine how the private sector can further improve its understanding of last mile challenges and patients’ needs.
Jo Tierens, senior director, global public health supply chain, Janssen Supply Chain added, “By participating in such a program Douglas and Claudette are also helping us to identify what is valuable for public sector supply chain leaders and what might need to be tailored to their needs. While enhancing the supply chain leadership capabilities is the main objective of this program, the J&J participants will at the same time be exposed to the perspectives that Claudette and Douglas will bring to the team.”