Supply chain management integration into the hospitals and health centers

Currently, integration of supply chain management (SCM) within hospitals and health centers is recognized as a significant factor towards improving the quality of health care and reducing the cost. It was planned to investigate the impact of supply chain management system integration in health centers in Uzbekistan in this study. According to statistics of the World Health Organization (WHO), 20-40% of the healthcare centers’ budgets are allocated to purchasing equipment and medicines, and annual inefficiencies in supply chains lead to 15% waste of budgetary funds and a 30% increase in waiting time for patients. Information was collected using a field study of 15 Tashkent hospitals and health centers during 2023-2024. The results showed that the application of integrated SCM systems resulted in a 25% reduction in logistics costs, a 40% increase in the accuracy of drug inventory management, and a 50% reduction in wastage of medical equipment. Further, a 35% increase in patient satisfaction was observed due to enhanced access to healthcare services. This study confirms that the use of new technologies such as smart tracking systems and data analysis platforms within the healthcare supply chain not only helps in optimizing resources but also plays a key role in saving patients’ lives. Considering the 7% year-to-year rise in healthcare costs in Uzbekistan, the use of combined SM approaches can achieve economic savings up to $12 million annually.