Last year we announced our engagement in enhancing the OpenLMIS implementation in The Gambia. The project is managed by Vitalliance, with SolDevelo acting as a technical support. Following our work for the past few months, we would like to share the OpenLMIS success story covering the improvements made.
OpenLMIS issues prior to improvements
The Gambia faced several major supply chain system issues that made it difficult to benefit from OpenLMIS and use it to its full potential. These problems were not just technical inconveniences – they directly impacted the ability of healthcare facilities and supply chain managers to effectively track, manage, and distribute essential medical supplies. Among the problems were:
Non-alignment of batch numbers to their trade items
This misalignment disrupted inventory accuracy and traceability, making it nearly impossible to track product origins and expiration dates. The issue heightened the risk of distributing expired products, endangering patient safety and undermining trust in the healthcare system.
Logs accumulation
Unchecked log accumulation led to system slowdowns and degraded performance, increasing response times for critical actions. This inefficiency was particularly detrimental in environments where timely decision-making is vital for the distribution of medicines.
Non-functionality of essential features
The failure of key functionalities, such as pick-pack, pagination, requisition and resupply (R&R), physical inventory, adjustment, and issuing, paralyzed the system’s ability to handle inventory workflows. This not only delayed supply replenishment but also caused significant manual workload, increasing the likelihood of errors in the process.
System showstopping web browser issues
End-users frequently encountered critical errors while using the system through web browsers, which resulted in interrupted operations and a lack of confidence in the platform. These technical barriers prevented the widespread adoption of OpenLMIS, limiting its intended impact on healthcare delivery.
Together, these challenges created a cascading effect of inefficiencies and risks, jeopardizing the reliability of the supply chain. Addressing these issues was essential to ensure the system could support The Gambia’s healthcare infrastructure, optimize inventory management, and ultimately improve health outcomes across the country.
Our support for OpenLMIS in The Gambia
As mentioned in the OpenLMIS in The Gambia case study, our work consisted of a few phases designed to answer the needs of the client.
It began with an initiation phase, where we optimized server infrastructure, configured systems to meet standards, and implemented issue tracking through Jira. This phase also included an upgrade to OpenLMIS version 3.17. In the reporting enhancement phase, we developed tailored national-level reports with advanced filters, period-based data views, and shipment comparisons, alongside UI improvements for clarity. Currently, the project has transitioned into the maintenance phase, with a focus on ongoing system monitoring and swift resolution of any issues raised by the in-country team.
Fixing major issues to increase usability
After conducting issue prioritization, 27 major issues were identified and put at the top of the list of things to be resolved. We’ve implemented a variety of fixes and enhancements, some of which were described above. As a result, 21 major issues were successfully resolved, making up 78%.
With these fixes implemented, OpenLMIS in The Gambia became a far more reliable and efficient tool for managing the country’s supply chain operations. The resolution of critical issues improved system stability and usability, enabling healthcare professionals to confidently manage inventory, track supply movements, and respond promptly to the needs of facilities across the country.
The upgrade to OpenLMIS version 3.17 introduced enhanced functionality and addressed previously encountered browser-related disruptions, resulting in a smoother and more intuitive user experience.
These improvements have paved the way for a more resilient and sustainable healthcare supply chain in The Gambia, ensuring that essential medical supplies are readily available where and when they are needed most.
OpenLMIS solving supply chain challenges in The Gambia
Supported by the fixed and improved version of OpenLMIS, The Gambia can finally benefit from the system’s functionality and experience improvements in the supply chain processes on central and regional level. Here are some of the use cases shared by the client:
Timely stock monitoring
The Stock Management feature allows keeping track of stock and identifying products with near expiry dates. With this information easily accessible, such products can be effectively redistributed to facilities with minimal stock of the same item.
The process is highly time-oriented and so it requires constant access to up-to-date stock information. OpenLMIS serves that purpose by providing insight into the current status of products and allowing smooth stock management.
Effective stock monitoring is critical in preventing wastage and ensuring that all available resources are utilized efficiently. By redistributing near-expiry products, the system not only reduces the financial losses associated with expired stock but also improves the availability of essential medical supplies in regions where they are most needed.
Quick product recall
OpenLMIS proved helpful when performing a product recall due to quality concerns by providing effective tracking and inventory management features. The system’s ability to trace batch numbers and monitor stock locations allowed health authorities to quickly identify and isolate the affected products.
This streamlined the recall process, ensuring that the compromised items were promptly removed from circulation and replaced with safe alternatives. The efficiency of this process minimized potential risks to patient safety and reinforced confidence in the healthcare supply chain.
Effective inventory management
The system provides senior managers with an insight into the stock status of facilities. It supports the process of determining whether the facilities are issuing to their valid destinations and executing the proof of delivery.
With more control over the inventory management at the facility level, senior managers can ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and that facilities adhere to established supply chain protocols. This level of oversight reduces the risk of stock mismanagement, such as unauthorized redistribution or misuse of supplies, and fosters accountability across all levels of the healthcare supply chain.
Additionally, the ability to monitor proof of delivery helps verify that supplies reach their intended destinations on time and in the correct quantities. This transparency is critical for maintaining trust and ensuring that healthcare facilities are adequately equipped to serve their communities.
Informed requisition monitoring
The Average Monthly Consumption feature allows senior managers to estimate the monthly needs of each facility, and verify whether their requisitions are genuine and warrant resupply of the requested quantities.
This feature plays a crucial role in maintaining a balanced and efficient supply chain by preventing overstocking or understocking at facilities. By providing insights into each facility’s actual consumption patterns, senior managers can validate requisitions against historical data, ensuring that requests are aligned with real needs.
With accurate consumption estimates, managers can also identify anomalies, such as sudden spikes in demand, which may indicate issues like mismanagement, improper forecasting, or emerging healthcare crises. This level of scrutiny helps maintain accountability and ensures that resources are allocated where they are most needed.
Next steps
Our support for the OpenLMIS implementation in The Gambia continues, as we keep providing comprehensive maintenance services to the local teams, resolving new issues and offering our assistance when needed.
We’re grateful for the positive feedback and happy to see the results of our work. The collaboration with the local team has been invaluable – they are incredibly helpful, dedicated, and proactive, making our joint efforts even more effective.
This positive partnership motivates us to keep improving the system so that it serves the people of The Gambia in the best way possible.
