A fuzzy MICMAC analysis for improving supply chain performance of basic vaccines in developing countries

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In recent years, demand to improve child immunization coverage globally, and the development of the latest vaccines and technology has made the vaccine market very complex. The rise in such complexities often gives birth to numerous issues in the vaccine supply chain, which are the primary cause of its poor performance. Figuring out the cause of the performance problem can help you decide how to address it. The goal of the present study is to identify and analyze important issues in the supply chain of basic vaccines required for child immunization in the developing countries.

Research Design & Methods: Twenty-five key issues as various factors of the vaccine supply chain have been presented in this paper. Fuzzy MICMAC analysis has been carried out to classify the factors based on their driving and dependence power and to develop a hierarchy based model. Further, the findings have been discussed with the field experts to identify the critical factors.

Results & Conclusion: Three factors: better demand forecast, communication between the supply chain members, and proper planning and scheduling have been identified as the critical factors of vaccine supply chain. These factors should be given special care to improve vaccine supply chain performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Vaccine
• immunization
• supply chain
• developing countries
• issues
• factors
• fuzzy MICMAC

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to everyone who participated in this research. We are indebted to Dr. Usha Jang Pangti, Mr. Naveen Pandey, and Dr. Deepti Dhami of Universal Immunization Program Nainital for many discussions and valuable information that helped us to achieve the work in its present form.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

The paper was not funded.