Ensuring essential drugs are readily accessible can be a problem for public healthcare facilities in Bangladesh due to issues around delayed procurement, poor stock keeping and poor storage. Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) conducted an audit on medicine supply management in 16 public health facilities with support from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The audit was conducted between 13th September and 5th October 2026 and looked at medicine storage, stock keeping, pharmacy management and electronic recording using the Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS). Stakeholders believe that the findings will enable improvements to be made to medicine supply chains.
Six districts were visited by the joint DGHS and WHO teams including Khulna, Sunamganj, Rajshahi, Khagrachari, Bhola and Nilphamari.
Initial findings from the audit identified issues around poor stock keeping, poor storage and lack of monitoring. There were also issues around a lack of trained staff and equipment, and dual paper and electronic recording.
Other issues included delayed procurement, lack of budget and poor medicine supplies.
These issues can cause problems beyond just managing the medicines. Poor stock keeping can cause delays in identifying shortages. Poor storage and monitoring can cause medicines to go to waste. If there are no medicines available at public health facilities then patients may have to buy them from alternative sources increasing out-of-pocket costs.
Bangladesh has gradually implemented the eLMIS since 2021. Now 84 facilities within 9 pilot districts use the system alongside centralised supplies and certain diseases (WHO).
This improves transparency in medicine stock management, improves forecasting and helps health authorities identify potential shortages.
However, even if electronic systems are implemented there must be good data being entered, trained staff, proper equipment and good procurement and storage practices.
According to a study looking at medicine supply chain resilience within rural healthcare institutions in Bangladesh. They identified several issues such as stock-outs, delayed procurement, poor storage, limited transport and poor distribution networks.
They also identified that through the implementation of electronic recording systems, training, better infrastructure and collaboration this could be improved.2
A detailed report including all findings from the audit are being created. Initial recommendations include improving training and oversight of staff, improving storage facilities, having standardized drug lists, overcoming procurement issues and reducing the burden of dual recording.
This should help the DGHS and WHO identify what improvements are needed to implement eLMIS.
Having a reliable supply of essential medicines is a core part of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to ensure individuals can access necessary healthcare without experiencing financial difficulties. Improving medicine supply chains can help achieve this by ensuring medicines are readily available at public health facilities.
The next step for Bangladesh will be to implement changes based on the findings of the audit. Whether this leads to eLMIS being widely implemented and medicines being more consistently available will depend on what actions are taken.
References:
1. World Health Organization. “Bangladesh Moves to Strengthen Medicine Supply Chains and Improve Access to Essential Medicines.” October 25, 2026. WHO Bangladesh.
2. Gomes, Reaymond Rax, AKM Matiur Rahman, and Akim M. Rahman. “Enhancing Supply Chain Management for Essential Medicines in Primary Healthcare Services: A Case Study of Rural Areas in Bangladesh.” International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology 11, no. 8 (2026). https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26aug1570.
Rh/MF