PROSPECTS FOR LEVERAGING PRIVATE SECTOR LOGISTICS FIRMS TO SUPPORT RURAL ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE: SOME INSIGHTS FROM MOZAMBIQUE J Beale, M Mashiri1 and J Chakwizira2 VillageReach Organisation, Seattle, United States of America, Cell: 1.206.755.0145 Email address:
[email protected] 1GTRD, 25A Barnstable Road, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria 0081, Email:
[email protected] Cell: +27 72 122 9394 2University of Venda, School of Environmental Sciences, P/Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa; Tel: +27 (0)15 962 8585; Fax: +27(0)15 962 8587; Email:
[email protected],
[email protected] ABSTRACT For many rural communities across southern Africa, access to even the most basic healthcare is not guaranteed. Competing demands by public sector agencies for limited transport resources, plus poor vehicle maintenance standards, prevent public health system motor pools from being available consistently to reach health centers on a regular basis. The irregular availability and use of transport also results in higher overall costs of distribution of medical commodities due to vehicle breakdowns, higher rates of product wastage, and higher personnel costs per successful delivery. As a result, medical commodities including vaccines and essential medicines are not provided reliably or in sufficient supply, needlessly impacting the health of these communities. This paper reviews current transport practices within the Ministry of Health (MISAU) and highlights existing trends in commercial transport with a view to presenting considerations in which the two sectors could collaborate to achieve improved reliability and increased efficiency of the distribution of medical commodities. A mixed method approach was employed to gather, review and process information.