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- In this edition -
September 2020  |  Issue 5 
Feature story:
Health Logistics events:
F E A T U R E   S T O R Y FS
Overcoming common supply chain challenges, and sharing solutions to achieve better health outcomes during COVID-19 and beyond

With the COVID-19 pandemic straining already fragile systems, it is becoming increasingly evident that the public health sector needs to find ways to better leverage existing expertise, mechanisms, infrastructures and systems; through increased coordination and collaboration.

Recently, PFSCM has driven initiatives to improve stakeholder coordination and collaboration for more sustainable, affordable and creative solutions:
  • In Uganda, PFSCM contracted with a local third party warehouse provider to reduce pressure on the National Medical Stores. This facility is shared by service providers moving health products into the country.
  • When Tanzania made major changes to its importation process for health care products, PFSCM mapped the new process to identify and reduce bottlenecks caused by the new procedures. PFSCM collaborated with various stakeholders and shared best practices with peers to help them navigate through the new importation environment.
  • As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, PFSCM recently made use of a charter flight to move a shipment of viral load testing products to Malawi. PFSCM offered part of the charter to a peer who faced the same challenge of moving health care products into the country.
S E R V I C E   S P O T L I G H T :   S O U R C E  SS
Agility and experience: responding to COVID-19 and other epidemics with sustainable solutions 

PFSCM was established to help fight one of the world's most serious and ongoing epidemics, HIV.

When PFSCM set up shop in 2005, it was to develop, implement and manage one of the world's largest health supply chains to deliver lifesaving HIV diagnostic, treatment and prevention products to low- and middle-income countries around the world. Since then PFSCM has expanded its expertise to help reduce the impact of other epidemics such as malaria and tuberculosis.

Now, 15 years later, PFSCM is responding to yet another pandemic, COVID-19. This time around, equipped with deep experience and better processes and systems.

Since May this year, PFSCM has procured $32 million worth of COVID-19 diagnostic products and delivered 71 shipments to 33 countries*.

*May 1 - Aug 24, 2020

Read more about how PFSCM is navigating new products on the market, fast-tracking processes for quick delivery turnaround, and planning for the sustainability of COVID-19 services...
H E A L T H  L O G I S T I C S  E V E N T S LHE



  • September 29, 2020
  • 11:15 - 12:15 EDT
  • Oral Presentation Room 3 Zoom 
  • Presenters from JSI and PFSCM

Join PFSCM at the 12th Annual Conference on Health & Humanitarian Logistics 

PFSCM is pleased to present at the 12th Annual Conference on Health & Humanitarian Logistics (HHL2020)which has become known as invaluable forum to discuss challenges and new solutions in healthcare, disaster preparedness and response, and long-term development.

The theme of this year's summit is Pushing Agility to the Boundaries.

In line with this theme, PFSCM will discuss how lessons learned from COVID-19 crisis responses can be used to improve supply chain sustainability, and streamline existing public health procurement and logistics.

PFSCM, like many other organizations, felt the effects of COVID-19 restrictions in the form of production delays, transportation shortages, price inflations, and unexpected market behavior.

In our presentation we will provide more details about how we were impacted, and we will present some of the solutions we came up with to ensure the service continuity of our HIV, malaria and TB procurement work. While executing our regular work, we also started shipping COVID-19 diagnostics; and from this we gathered valuable lessons about the potential of fast-tracking processes for quicker service delivery

In closing, we will briefly recap some of the best practices that can help create resilient, sustainable and efficient supply chains going forward.

Get to know our presenter below...
Ishmael Muchemenyi
PFSCM 4PL Services Director

Ishmael has more than 25 years' experience managing private and public health supply chains across 60 countries in Africa, Asia Pacific, America, Europe and the Middle East. 

Ishmael joined PFSCM in 2013. As 4PL Services Director, he plays an instrumental leadership role in transforming and innovating operations in close collaboration with donors and recipient countries.

Passionate about sustainability through local ownership, process improvement and cost optimization, Ishmael most recently accepted a position on the board of trustees of a UK-based NGO, Transaid.
PFSCM parent company, John Snow Inc. (JSI) and its affiliates at HHL2020

As countries around the world respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, already strained health supply chains are being tested. JSI is leading the way in transforming global health supply chains that meet people's health needs and are resilient enough to withstand shocks, such as the one that COVID-19 has delivered. 

At HHL2020, JSI' supply chain experts and their affiliates will discuss key experiences in strengthening supply chains to support the COVID-19 response and help safeguard routine health services and supplies. 

A special thanks to Nadia Olson and Walter Proper for participating in the HHL 2020 Program Committee and as co-hosts/moderators for the conference.

See all JSI's presentations and workshops hereAlso keep an eye on the conference agenda.
R E S P O N S I B L E   B U S I N E S S RB
PFSCM renews commitment to the UN Global Compact initiative for advancing societal goals

Corporate sustainability through responsible business activities, is an inexpugnable company culture at PFSCM. We have aligned our business strategies with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption as set forth in the UN Global Compact's 10 Principles.

Since our first engagement with the UN Global Compact in 2018, PFSCM has taken practical actions to support the UN Global Compact Principles. We consciously reworked our ISO 9001:2015 certified Quality Management System to include the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact in our documented Standard Operating Procedures, Working Instructions, Policies, and Guidelines

PFSCM implemented new business practices that advance the UN Global Compact Principles in the following areas of business: 
  • Procurement and sourcing (Principle 10: Anti-corruption) 
  • Logistics and waste management (Principle 8: Environment) 
  • Human Resources (Principles 3 to 6: Labour and Human Rights)


+1.571.227.8600pfscm@pfscm.orgwww.pfscm.org
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