Supply Chain Management

Product selection is a key phase of the logistics cycle. It determines what products are procured and used by the health system, in addition to the range of products available. Selecting products enables the design and execution of a nationally coordinated logistics system and permits the redistribution of products throughout the system.

Prioritizing specific products is a useful way for supply chain managers to ensure product availability. This can be done by compiling a designated list of essential products and medicines which are helpful in meeting the needs of a program or health system. While most countries have developed such lists of based on World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, the governing bodies responsible for product selection vary depending on the country and context. Examples of various governing bodies include a national formulary and therapeutics committee, a pharmaceutical board, a board of physicians, or another government-appointed agency.

Product selection is a prerequisite to quantification because it identifies the products that should be quantified. In the next module discusses quantification and programming in more detail. The following tools explain the process in which medicines and supplies are chosen to meet the needs of the user identified during forecasting.