Journal article
Strengthening the immunization supply chain through EVM assessment: Comparing India's two successive national assessments
Background: Effective immunization supply chain (iSC) is crucial for safe and timely transport of potent vaccines to the beneficiary. India's iSC, with a network of ~29,000 cold chain points (CCP), measures its quality standards using the World Health Organization-United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (WHO-UNICEF) global tool on effective vaccine management (EVM). The two national EVM assessments (EVMA) were conducted in 2013 and 2018. This study helps to see the impact of policies and practices through EVMA in maintaining an efficient iSC for effective implementation of immunization program.
Materials and methods: We conducted a desk analysis using EVMA reports to summarize and compare the findings of the two studies. Cut-off of 80% was considered ideal for each category/criteria score.
Results: Both EVMA 2013 and 2018 were conducted using Android-based global EVM tool, though across a wider sample of CCP. Maximum and minimum changes in scores were sub-national and lowest distribution (16% each) and national buffer stores (7%), respectively. Maximum and minimum improvements were seen in vaccine management (29%) and MIS and supportive functions (3%), respectively. The improvement was statistically significant for the overall scores (P = 0.02), primary (P = 0.01), subnational (P = 0.02), and lowest distribution stores (P = 0.03). Among the 36 recommendations of 2013 assessment, 78% and 22% were fully and partially implemented (or ongoing), respectively.
Conclusion: Implementation of EVM recommendations has significantly led to improvement and continues to provide a benchmark for iSC and its processes. Follow-up assessments every 3-5 years can further help to evaluate iSC and ascertain the impact of recommendations.
Authors
Languages
- English
Publication year
2022
Type
Journal article
Categories
- Supply chain & logistics
Countries
- India
Topic references
EVM2-ARTICLES
Title | Author | Year | Type | Language |
---|---|---|---|---|
Assessment of vaccine management performance in health facilities of Mwanza Region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study | Green Sadru, Makhado Mulatedzi, Omary Swalehe, Stany Binzimana, Domina Asingizwe, Shital Mahindra Maru | 2023 | Journal article | English |
Effective Vaccine Management: The Case of a Rural District in Ghana | Eric Osei, Mohammed Ibrahim, Gregory Kofi Amenuvegbe | 2019 | Journal article | English |
Key lessons learned from the immunization supply chain of Malawi, an African country using EVM2.0 | Ghanshyam Sethy, Mike Nenani Chisema, Lokesh Sharma, Olamide Folorunso, Dereje Haile, Zeinab Reda Berri, Krupal Joshi, Mphatso Ntenje, Collins Mitambo, Beverly Laher, Sanjay Singhal, Samuel Chirwa, Tedla Damte, Flint Zulu, Antoinette Eleonore Ba, Michelle Seidel, John Phuka | 2022 | Journal article | English |
Strengthening the immunization supply chain through EVM assessment: Comparing India's two successive national assessments | Lokesh Sharma, Ginisha Gupta, Bhrigu Kapuria, Snehil Kumar Singh, Sanjay Gupta, Mahesh Kumar Agarwal, Harshad Thakur | 2022 | Journal article | English |