Abstract

Background: Nigeria’s public health sector development projects face significant supply chain challenges that critically hinder the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery. Objective: This study examined the supply chain challenges facing public health development projects in Nigeria by synthesizing existing literature to identify the current issues and structure, examining their impact on performance and implications for healthcare service delivery. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases yielding a total of 14 relevant studies. Literature sources include academic journals, governmental and non-governmental organizations’ reports, and health sector reviews. Results: The review revealed that Nigeria’s public health supply chain is characterized by inadequate infrastructure, inefficient logistics, and governance and management issues. Poor road networks, insufficient storage facilities, corruption, insecurity, and delays in transportation were the major issues identified. Key organizations and programs such as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), National Immunization Coverage Survey (NICS), Saving One Million Lives (SOML) initiative, and National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) play key roles but face lack of inter-organizational coordination and challenges. Conclusion: Inefficiencies in supply chains were observed to lead to frequent stockouts, poor program performance, and prolonged lead time for procurement. This narrative review highlights the critical need for supply chain strengthening in Nigeria’s public health sector. This will require a multifaceted approach involving reforms in infrastructure development and stakeholder collaboration. By prioritizing supply chain improvement, Nigeria can enhance healthcare outcomes and achieve its health development goals.

Keywords

supply chain, Nigeria, logistics, supply chain challenges, public health, health sector development, supply chain structure, supply chain performance, supply chain implications