Procurement, key to the success of our missions

At the end of 2023, a surgical mission to Burkina Faso had to be cancelled. A first in thirty years! The reason: medical supply problems. The purchasing and logistics department, the backbone of our action, has to deal with complex challenges.

“We work closely with medical teams to determine the needs of each mission, whether in terms of medicines or medical devices,” explains Thomas Mougel, head of the department.

Supplies are crucial for operations. That’s why La Chaîne de l’Espoir has a stock of over 1,500 items: surgical instruments, sutures, gowns, surgical drapes and, of course, valves, indispensable in cardiac surgery.

Thomas Mougel underlines the difficulty of finding these specific products, which are often unavailable in the countries of intervention, and all the more so at the expected levels of quality and price“. The question of quality is paramount, as counterfeiting represents a major risk”, he stresses. Furthermore, the definition of needs is complex, varying according to the surgical program and the surgeon’s technique.

Supply difficulties

The department is currently facing unprecedented logistical challenges. “We’re still reeling from the consequences of Covid-19 in terms of global sourcing. Between transport problems, factory closures and the disorganization of production chains, the challenge is huge,” admits Thomas Mougel.

In addition, European regulations require medical devices to be re-certified. This requirement leads to stock-outs and the withdrawal from the market of products crucial to certain operations.

Faced with these obstacles, the department has to be resourceful. ” We are exploring alternative sources in Asia and the Middle East, and increasing our stock levels,” explains Thomas Mougel. However, this strategy calls for rigorous validation of product quality and fine-tuned inventory management.

Essential link in the chain

The situation is particularly tense for pediatric cardiac surgery. “ We depend on one main supplier for cannulas essential to open-heart surgery. Production delays and global logistical tensions directly affect our missions. This is what forced us to cancel the mission planned for Burkina Faso”. reveals Thomas Mougel.

As a result, La Chaîne de l’Espoir sometimes has to adapt its operating programs according to the equipment available.

In the future, the aim is also to strengthen collaboration with surgeons and medical teams. “We want to work more upstream with them. We also need to rethink our logistics scheme, perhaps by developing advanced stocks in West Africa”, he projects. Supply-side challenges take their toll on human lives:

“Every logistical difficulty we encounter has a direct impact on patient waiting lists. Our mission is to find solutions to ensure that these obstacles don’t compromise our ability to save lives.”

Burkina Faso