Healthcare Supply Chain System Challenges and Mitigation Measures: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence

• Published in: Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Main Author: Wahab S.N.; Ahmed N.; Uzir Md.U.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Operations and Supply Chain Management Forum 2023
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85163517476&doi=10.31387%2foscm0530381&partnerID=40&md5=8bfb1b41b81d6c4a1904919c8d44369b

This paper aims to examine the current challenges faced by Malaysian hospitals during the post-COVID-19 pandemic. This paper employs a subjective environmental scanning approach and a review of the current literature and outlines the challenges as well as proposed mitigation measures to address these concerns. Based on a review and analysis of the literature, the key challenges that the Malaysian healthcare system is struggling with include misinformation and disinformation, high hospital bed occupancy, ICU management crisis, acute shortage of healthcare professionals, treatment delays among non-COVID patients, personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage, occupational burnout, and mental health issues among healthcare professionals, blood supply management issues, challenges concerning treatment, and the challenges concerning vaccination. Several mitigation measures have been proposed as a solution. This research draws the attention of hospital management and policymakers to the issues they confront during the post-COVID-19 pandemic so that suitable solutions may be developed to address them. Findings and suggested mitigation measures can add considerable value to current academic work, and deepen knowledge along with the development of a successful healthcare supply chain system. This study is among a few of its kind that offers mitigation measures for diversifying the healthcare business by venturing into the supply chain system. © 2023 Iran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.