Procurement is a key part of the medical supply chain process in ensuring not only that items are sourced and obtained, but that these items meet the quality standards required. Procurement in different organizations may be carried out by a range of people, with various job titles and, because of its importance, there will usually be clear procedures and rules that need to be followed.

The unit focuses on the specific requirements for procuring medical items. These requirements may not be unique to medical items, but they are particularly important when procuring medical items compared to other non-medical items.

The unit starts by looking briefly at the function of procurement and the procurement process. It then looks at the specific requirements for procuring medical items. This is done by considering the stages in the procurement process where the requirements for procuring medical items are particularly important and/or require specific attention.

Warehousing & Inventory Management is a key part of the medical supply chain process in ensuring that whenever and wherever items have to be stored in the supply chain network, they are stored in such a way that the quality of the items is maintained. The nature of medical supply chains means that there are often a number of places (warehouses and stores) where the items are stored before they are finally delivered or administered to beneficiaries. There are therefore a number of different people responsible for, and involved in the storage of medical items.

This unit focuses on the specific requirements for storing medical items. These requirements may not be unique to medical items, although there are a number that are unique, but they are particularly important when storing medical items compared to other non-medical items.

The unit begins by looking at the role of storage in medical supply chains. It then looks at the specific requirements for storing medical items followed by considering the role of inventory and how inventory must be managed. Finally, the unit finishes by considering the options for acquiring, owning and operating the storage facilities.

Transportation is a key part of the medical supply chain process in ensuring that whenever and wherever items need to be moved in the supply chain network, they are transported in such a way that the quality of the item is maintained. The nature of medical supply chains means that there are a number of occasions when the items need to be transported before they are delivered/administered to patients. There are therefore often a number of different people responsible for, and involved in, the transport and movement of the items.

The unit focuses on the specific requirements for transporting medical items. These requirements may not all be unique to medical items, but they are particularly important when transporting medical items compared to non-medical items.

The unit starts by looking at the role of transport in medical supply chains. It then considers the specific requirements for transporting and handling medical items. Finally, it considers the use of external transport providers to move medical items.

The activities of a medical programme will lead to the production of waste. Some, if not most of this waste, is general waste that is not dangerous and will be disposed of in the same ways as general waste from other aspects of humanitarian aid programmes. However, some types of medical waste, if not disposed of correctly, can lead to risk to health and the environment. Unwanted and unused medical items often accumulate during a programme and after the programme has finished. These items will also need to be disposed of in a way that doesn’t lead to risks.

This unit focuses on the specific requirements for the disposal of medical waste – both waste from medical activities and waste in the form of unusable medical items.

The unit begins by looking at the importance of correct disposal of waste. It then considers the different types of waste. It continues on to look at the sources of unusable items that will require disposal. It finishes by considering the disposal process, the different methods of disposal and the consequences of improper or non-disposal of medical waste.