The role of Supply Chain Applications in Jordanian Pharmacies: A case study on Pharmacies in the capital city Amman

Abstract

This paper explores the role of Supply Chain Management applications in the pharmaceutical world as well as its effect and uses in local pharmacies. Most pharmacies in the studied group rely heavily on manual labour rather than computerized systems, risking medicine interruption on a frequent basis. Furthermore, those who use a computerized system do not believe it helps them reduce medicine interruptions either because the system is too complicated to use or does not meet the pharmacy’s demands. To measure the effect and role of supply chain management applications a questionnaire was built and evaluated by peers. The research builds on data collected from pharmacies in Amman, the capital city of Jordan. The study sheds light on the importance of using Supply Chain Management applications to support and maintain a fixed supply of medicine. The study also focuses on some difficulties pharmacists face preventing them from using such tools. The research provides several suggestions on improving the supply chain applications used by pharmaceutical companies in Amman by focusing on the needs of the pharmacists as well as using the proper tools (both hardware and software). The research also provides several suggestions on how to improve the supply chain management model used by both pharmacies as well as suppliers to reduce medicine interruptions.

Keywords: Supply Chain Management, technology, medicine interruptions, SCM life cycle