Impact pathways: improving medicine access through cross-national stockpiling
De Vries,Harwin Lemmens,Stef Breugem,Thomas Olivier,Max
De Vries,Harwin
Lemmens,Stef
Breugem,Thomas
Olivier,Max
Abstract
Purpose Pressure to address drug shortages is increasing, and calls for cross-national stockpiling solutions are on the rise. This paper argues that cross-national stockpiling presents an important opportunity for operations and supply chain management (OSCM) research to help improve medicine access in the short- and long-term. Design/methodology/approach To substantiate our claims for future research, we conducted an empirical analysis of shortage co-occurrence on twelve EU member-states, reviewed practice reports and academic literature, and held extensive discussions with pharmaceutical supply chain stakeholders. Findings We show that the potential for cross-national stockpiling is unmistakably there and that, although OSCM research has touched upon important facets of cross-national stockpiling, many open questions still require novel research. Originality/value We present opportunities for impactful research along various dimensions, including understanding barriers and stakeholder behavior, quantifying cost-effectiveness and potential knock-on effects, analyzing the positive and negative implications of product standardization and determining novel equitable mechanisms for allocation and financing cross-national stockpiles.
Description
Publisher Copyright: © 2024, Harwin De Vries, Stef Lemmens, Thomas Breugem and Max Olivier.
Date
2024-12-16
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
drug shortages, medicine access, stockpiling, inventory pooling, collaboration, equity
Citation
De Vries, H, Lemmens, S, Breugem, T & Olivier, M 2024, 'Impact pathways: improving medicine access through cross-national stockpiling', International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 44, no. 13, pp. 364-372. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-07-2024-0550