Until recently, sporadic stock-outs of contraceptives at service delivery points (SDPs) under the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) were a challenge in Bangladesh. These stock-outs were caused by a lack of accurate and real-time logistics data from the SDPs, limited access to data, and poor feedback mechanisms. This situation increased the risk of unwanted pregnancies and endangered women’s and children’s lives.
The USAID-funded Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) Program worked with the DGFP to successfully implement a nationwide, web-enabled logistics management information system with a dashboard to track the stock status of contraceptives at 29,200 SDPs. To ensure data transparency and increased accountability, this e-tool can be used by anyone. The system allows data providers and their supervisors to monitor potential stock imbalances and helps them to make timely decisions for stock replenishment. This tool has supported the transition of local-level managers from data producers to data users, improved decentralized decision making, and reduced stock-outs.
The SDP dashboard module is one of many SIAPS-supported health information systems that are helping to strengthen Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical systems. This video shows DGFP health champions as they share how this dashboard is supporting evidence-based decision making and increasing the availability of contraceptives at the last mile.
