Economy
Pharmaceuticals Supply Service Axes Three Laws With New Inventory Rules
The Reporter · 3 hours ago · Read the Full Story on The Reporter

AI SUMMARY
The Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Service has replaced three outdated directives with a single comprehensive framework to align supply chain management with its digital systems and modern operating standards.
- The Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Service (EPSS) issued Directive No. 1149/2026 under Proclamation No. 1354/2017.
- The new directive repeals Directive No. 352/2021, Directive No. 355/2021, and Directive No. 384/2021.
- The overhaul addresses historical structural challenges including warehouse capacity constraints, inventory tracking gaps, and distribution delays highlighted in a 2025 BMC Health Services Research study.
- The unified framework aims to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs, foster inter-institutional coordination, expand digitalization, and strengthen accountability.
- Health facilities are mandated to prepare annual, budget-backed pharmaceutical requirements and submit them through EPSS branches.
- The directive provides regulatory backing to maximize the coordinated use of EPSS's SAP enterprise resource planning system launched two years ago after an investment exceeding nine million birr.
- The framework codifies multi-vendor procurement and committed or framework agreements as primary supply channels, with quarterly reviews of supply and demand.
- Strict operational requirements are established for warehousing, including designated storage areas, material-handling equipment, backup power, continuous environmental monitoring, and cold-chain oversight.
- Special handling protocols are defined for narcotic and psychotropic medicines, as well as flammable chemicals.
- Inventory control measures mandate cyclical, annual, and ad-hoc stock counts alongside standardized procedures for damaged or expired goods.
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