Supply chain risk management strategies in normal and abnormal times: policymakers' role in reducing generic medicine shortages
(2023) In International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management 53(2). p.206-230- Abstract
- Purpose – This paper links supply chain risk management to medicine supply chains to explore the role of
policymakers in employing supply chain risk management strategies (SCRMS) to reduce generic medicine
shortages.
Design/methodology/approach – Using secondary data supplemented with primary data, the authors map
and compare seven countries’ SCRMS for handling shortage risks in their paracetamol supply chains before
and during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Findings – Consistent with recent research, the study finds that policymakers had implemented few SCRMS
specifically for responding to disruptions caused by COVID-19. However, shortages were largely avoided since
multiple strategies for... (More) - Purpose – This paper links supply chain risk management to medicine supply chains to explore the role of
policymakers in employing supply chain risk management strategies (SCRMS) to reduce generic medicine
shortages.
Design/methodology/approach – Using secondary data supplemented with primary data, the authors map
and compare seven countries’ SCRMS for handling shortage risks in their paracetamol supply chains before
and during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Findings – Consistent with recent research, the study finds that policymakers had implemented few SCRMS
specifically for responding to disruptions caused by COVID-19. However, shortages were largely avoided since
multiple strategies for coping with business-as-usual disruptions had been implemented prior to the pandemic.
The authors did find that SCRMS implemented during COVID-19 were not always aligned with those
implemented pre-pandemic. The authors also found that policymakers played both direct and indirect roles.
Research limitations/implications – Combining longitudinal secondary data with interviews sheds light
on how, regardless of the level of preparedness during normal times, SCRMS can be leveraged to avert
shortages in abnormal times. However, the problem is highly complex, which warrants further research.
Practical implications – Supply chain professionals and policymakers in the healthcare sector can use the
findings when developing preparedness and response plans.
Social implications – The insights developed can help policymakers improve the availability of high-volume
generic medicines in (ab)normal times.
Originality/value – The authors contribute to prior SCRM research in two ways. First, the authors
operationalize SCRMS in the medicine supply chain context in (ab)normal times, thereby opening avenues for
future research on SCRM in this context. Second, the authors develop insights on the role policymakers play
and how they directly implement and indirectly influence the adoption of SCRMS. Based on the study findings,
the authors develop a framework that captures the diverse roles of policymakers in SCRM. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/4aa4515a-0d92-4e8e-b442-460c150893d5
- author
- Ahlqvist, Victoria LU ; Dube, Nonhlanhla ; Jahre, Marianne LU ; Lee, Jin Soo ; Melaku, Tsegaye ; Farstad Moe, Andreas ; Olivier, Max ; Selviaridis, Kostas ; Viana, Joe and Aardal, Christine
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Medicine supply chain, Medicine shortage, Supply chain risk management, COVID-19, Paracetamol, Policymakers
- in
- International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management
- volume
- 53
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 206 - 230
- publisher
- Emerald Group Publishing Limited
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85139079356
- ISSN
- 0960-0035
- DOI
- 10.1108/IJPDLM-12-2021-0511
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 4aa4515a-0d92-4e8e-b442-460c150893d5
- date added to LUP
- 2022-10-13 09:14:48
- date last changed
- 2023-10-26 14:57:06
@article{4aa4515a-0d92-4e8e-b442-460c150893d5,
abstract = {{Purpose – This paper links supply chain risk management to medicine supply chains to explore the role of<br/>policymakers in employing supply chain risk management strategies (SCRMS) to reduce generic medicine<br/>shortages.<br/>Design/methodology/approach – Using secondary data supplemented with primary data, the authors map<br/>and compare seven countries’ SCRMS for handling shortage risks in their paracetamol supply chains before<br/>and during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.<br/>Findings – Consistent with recent research, the study finds that policymakers had implemented few SCRMS<br/>specifically for responding to disruptions caused by COVID-19. However, shortages were largely avoided since<br/>multiple strategies for coping with business-as-usual disruptions had been implemented prior to the pandemic.<br/>The authors did find that SCRMS implemented during COVID-19 were not always aligned with those<br/>implemented pre-pandemic. The authors also found that policymakers played both direct and indirect roles.<br/>Research limitations/implications – Combining longitudinal secondary data with interviews sheds light<br/>on how, regardless of the level of preparedness during normal times, SCRMS can be leveraged to avert<br/>shortages in abnormal times. However, the problem is highly complex, which warrants further research.<br/>Practical implications – Supply chain professionals and policymakers in the healthcare sector can use the<br/>findings when developing preparedness and response plans.<br/>Social implications – The insights developed can help policymakers improve the availability of high-volume<br/>generic medicines in (ab)normal times.<br/>Originality/value – The authors contribute to prior SCRM research in two ways. First, the authors<br/>operationalize SCRMS in the medicine supply chain context in (ab)normal times, thereby opening avenues for<br/>future research on SCRM in this context. Second, the authors develop insights on the role policymakers play<br/>and how they directly implement and indirectly influence the adoption of SCRMS. Based on the study findings,<br/>the authors develop a framework that captures the diverse roles of policymakers in SCRM.}},
author = {{Ahlqvist, Victoria and Dube, Nonhlanhla and Jahre, Marianne and Lee, Jin Soo and Melaku, Tsegaye and Farstad Moe, Andreas and Olivier, Max and Selviaridis, Kostas and Viana, Joe and Aardal, Christine}},
issn = {{0960-0035}},
keywords = {{Medicine supply chain; Medicine shortage; Supply chain risk management; COVID-19; Paracetamol; Policymakers}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{206--230}},
publisher = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
series = {{International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management}},
title = {{Supply chain risk management strategies in normal and abnormal times: policymakers' role in reducing generic medicine shortages}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-12-2021-0511}},
doi = {{10.1108/IJPDLM-12-2021-0511}},
volume = {{53}},
year = {{2023}},
}