For the millions of people living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries, cost-effective, reliable, secure and sustainable supply chains can save their lives.

To help improve the healthcare supply chain in Malawi, the United Kingdom and United States Governments, through the Department for International Development (DFID) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI), are working together with Ministry of Health to address the challenge of a lack of appropriate medical supplies storage capacity in Malawi’s health facilities. 

The Supply Chain Management System (SCMS) awarded Resolve Capacity (a division of Imperial group company Resolve Solution Partners) the contract to install 115 prefabricated storage units across the country using its unique Storage-in-a-Box solution.  Work commenced in June 2016, installing eight units a week, and the project is due for completion in October this year.

These prefabricated 70 m² modular storage units are pharmaceutical-compliant, validated, fully outfitted and can be deployed immediately. Delivered in 40 ft containers, Storage-in-a-Box brings supply chain solutions to both remote and urban settings with ease, allowing supply networks to develop where they are needed, not just where they have traditionally been able to be deployed.

SCMS is managed by the Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PFSCM), established in 2005, and is administered by USAID. It provides a reliable, cost-effective and secure supply of products for HIV/AIDS programs in PEPFAR-supported countries.

Before SCMS, shortages and stock-outs of commodities caused dangerous breaks in treatment for patients.  Emergency orders wasted money on rush fees and high freight costs. Lack of inventory control wasted valuable commodities due to expiry, improper storage and theft. Poor coordination led to redundancies and gaps in service.

“This project is one of a number of similar projects Resolve Capacity has conducted in Africa,” says Arno Haigh, Managing Executive for Resolve Capacity. “Our Clinic-in-a-Box™ and Warehouse-in-a-Box™ products have been instrumental in transforming healthcare solutions in a number of African countries. We look forward to completing this project in Malawi and playing a key role in streamlining the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain, which will in turn have a positive impact on healthcare in the country.”