A systematic literature review on the adoption of the Hub-and-Spoke model for pharmaceutical centralised procurement: Trends, challenges, and Implications

• Investigated the Hub and Spoke model for pharmaceuticals procurement. • A systematic Literature Review was conducted according to the PRISMA methodology. • Research domain split into one political-strategic and two operational clusters. • The Hub and Spoke model is suitable for centralised pharmaceuticals procurement. • More integration between political and operational aspects is required. Rising healthcare demands coupled with declining public funds necessitate increased efficiency in pharmaceutical procurement. Centralized Pharmaceutical Procurement (CPP) systems offer a solution by leveraging volume-based procurement, where a commission aggregates demand and negotiates lower prices, also improving access to affordable medicines for all. The Hub-and-Spoke (HaS) model emerges as a promising logistics solution, since it employs a central warehouse to streamline distribution and reduce transportation times. In scientific literature, a comprehensive study integrating this model with the entire CPP process is lacking. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate, through a systematic literature review, the aspects that characterise the application of the HaS model as an enabler of CPP policies. The analysis suggests the applicability of the HaS model for centralized pharmaceutical logistics. However, it emphasised the importance of long-term strategies and robust data management systems to guarantee the efficacy of these initiatives.