The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s technical and financial support has significantly improved Pakistan’s health goods supply.
USAID’s Deliver Project is expanding its web-based Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) across Pakistan for better management, record keeping, procurement and distribution of contraceptives, establishing logistics and procurement cells at the provincial and regional health and population departments; and providing Information Technology (IT) support to provinces and districts for all LMIS activities. The project is also assisting the relevant government departments in developing essential drugs lists with procurement packages for primary and secondary health care facilities.
USAID has already provided district level operator’s training to ensure that the web-based Logistics Management Information System is efficiently tracking the demand and supply of health commodities. By providing IT equipment, USAID has ensured that this supply tracking system operates in 143 districts. The Planning and Development Division, Planning Commission, Central Warehouse (CWH) Karachi, and the recently established Logistics and Procurement Cells (LPC) in the Health & Population Welfare departments will also be provided this equipment. The US Government is endowing $3.5m worth of hardware. This includes servers, desktop computers, laptops, printers, multimedia projectors, photocopiers, barcode scanners, printers and UPS. This will make it possible for the government departments to electronically track and report the monthly consumption of maternal health products and thus ensure adequate supply.
In 2001-2009, Pakistan’s government spent $5 to 6 million annually on average on contraceptive procurement. To meet the elevated demand, the US government donated $72 million till 2013.
The US Government’s long-term commitment towards strengthening the Pakistani health care system is evidenced by this donation. Through USAID, the US government is also funding the construction of various health facilities such as a new ward at the JinnahPost-GraduateMedicalCenter in Karachi.