Decentralizing and Integrating Contraceptive Logistics Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean Considerations for Informed Decision Making throughout the Health Reform Process

This paper highlights key considerations for policymakers in ministries of health and decision makers from the international donor community for prioritizing supply chain management throughout the health reform process—primarily when decentralizing and/or integrating the public health system. From a thorough compilation of experiences in the Latin American and Caribbean region, this paper synthesizes key ideas that policymakers, family planning managers, and logistics advisors can consider when implementing the decentralization and/or integration reforms of certain or all logistics systems functions to help sustain an efficient and continuous supply of contraceptives. These lessons illustrate how various logistics functions can be negatively affected when they are not prioritized throughout reform processes, while some reform measures can have positive effects on the supply chain when given priority attention throughout the planning and implementation process. Through careful planning, decision makers can help maintain a well-built logistics system that guarantees the availability of contraceptives to clients when implementing decentralization and integration reforms. DELIVER John Snow, Inc. 1616 North Fort Myer Drive 11th Floor Arlington, VA 22209 USA Phone: 703-528-7474 Fax: 703-528-7480 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.deliver.jsi.com