MGM hosts seminar on ‘’Supply Chain in Healthcare’’

The Second Chapter of SPECTRUM 360o – Supply Chain in Healthcare “Delivering Care in Real Time” which was recently held at MGM Auditorium, MGM Institute of Health Sciences, Kamothe, Navi Mumbai and hosted by MGM School of Health Management Studies witnessed the congregation of key decision makers of the industry who deliberated, discussed and debated on various issues affecting and shaping the supply chain in healthcare industry. Experts threw light on best practices around the globe and opportunities for improvement which would take the supply chain management in healthcare to attain higher level of excellence.

The day started with a grand inauguration ceremony by Dr Tarun Gupta, Professor Emeritus, School of Business Management, NMIMS University, Mumbai who was the Chief Guest for the event. Prof Dr CAK Yesudian, Professor & Dean, School of Health System Studies (TISS), the Guest of Honour, lit the lamp in the presence of Dr Narayan Khedkar (Chancellor), Dr SN Kadam (Vice Chancellor), Dr (Lt Gen) SK Kaul, Pro-Vice Chancellor, MGM Institute of Health Sciences, Kamothe; Dr ZG Badade, Registrar, MGM Institute of Health Sciences, Navi Mumbai; Dr Prakash P Doke, Medical Superintendent, MGM Hospital, Kamothe; Dr Virendra Mahadik, Medical Superintendent, MGM Hospital CBD Belapur and Prof Ashwini Arte, Director, MGM School of Health Management Studies, Kamothe.

The session commenced with Dr Gupta setting the stage for supply chain in healthcare. His inputs on the evolution of supply chain and importance of IT sector in supply chain gave great insights and food for thought for the upcoming sessions. This was carried forward by Dr Yesudian who threw light on cost effectiveness while maintaining high quality service; wherein there should be a proper balance of quality and cost. He also opined that in a hospital, administrator and clinician should work together; which laid a strong foundation for the topics to be discussed further.

The first speaker of the day, Joy Chakraborty, Senior Director – Operations, Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai; dealt with the topic ‘Hospital Inventory Management’. His teachings on hospital inventory management, particularly emphasising on managing working capital, was very insightful. His insights on inventory management in hospitals and critical issues faced in the current supply chain systems followed opened new avenues for thinking in young minds. He also discussed on reorder quantity methods.

The next speaker, Dr Akash Rajpal, Founder & Business Leader, Ekohealth Management Consultants, Navi Mumbai; dealt with ‘Funding & Working Capital Management in Supply Chain of Healthcare’. His inputs on how to ensure that whatever working capital is available can be optimised for more time, how efficient SCM can reduce cost by 30 per cent and the best practices on SCM was very informative.

The pre-lunch session was by NK Phatak, Hospital Administrator, Reliance Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai who discussed real time case studies and guided the students on how to ensure through quality care and less wastage by making a committee inclusive of doctors, pharmacists, administrators and supply chain manager for better and holistic growth of SCM in healthcare.

The post-lunch session commenced with Sanjay Goel, Chairman, GTC Group, Mumbai enlightening on ‘Supply chain in Healthcare – Managing Expectations’. His views on integrating and automating the supply chain was insightful. He also pointed out the new avenues and opportunities in hospitals to transform supply chains into a vital, collaborative, and strategic function. He also spoke about streamlining the workforce and facilitating a tight inventory; improving the charge-capture process, reducing claim denials and the risk of audits as well as having an integrated IT system. He also recommended collaborative governance and maintenance of common SCM data architecture.

The final session was conducted by Rajkamal Bhatia, Director Supply Chain & Distribution, Sanofi Pasteur, Mumbai who spoke on ‘Critical Parameters in Demand & Forecasting of Healthcare Supply Chain’. His inputs on types of demands, forecasting, critical parameters and challenges in SC was very informative.

This was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Strategies and Planning of Supply Chain Management in Healthcare’. It was moderated by Dr Ravindra Pratap Gupta, VP, Micro Technologies, Mumbai; and participated by Prashant Laghate, Associate Director – Head of Commercial Overseas Operations, Business Development, Institutional Business, Merck Serono, Mumbai; Amit K Ghosh, GM-Works, Elder Pharmaceuticals, Patalganga; Dr Doke; Dr Kalyani Sen, Medical Superintendent, MGM New Bombay Hospital, Vashi; Dr Virendra Mahadik, Medical Superintendent, MGM Hospital, CBD Belapur and Dr Nimain Mohanty, Medical Superintendent, MGM Hospital, Kalamboli.

The discussion went to the strategies and challenges faced, understanding pricing and forecasting in SCM. The vital roles of planning and SC Analytics were dealt with. They also threw light on how healthcare is most unpredictable, leading to difficulties in regulations. But, one thing that came out unanimously is that an integrated working model needs to be implemented across various departments. Serious issues like substandard drug supplies, reverse logistics, recall of drugs were also dealt with satisfactory suggestions.

All the panelists opined that human life is of the highest importance and hence quality should never be compromised. The importance of quality certifications were highly stressed upon. Many new trends followed by various hospitals globally for holistic improvement in SCM in healthcare. The last, but not the least, were their valuable guidance to future SC managers. Some of their suggestions were, ‘Don’t be confined to one department, embrace rotation across departments and get acquainted with all doctors and staff as well as their jobs in the hospital, evolve each time you work, use data for purpose of development etc.’

The closing ceremony was conducted by Prof Arte who congratulated the student organisers and staff for hosting an influential and successful event and thanked all the speakers, delegates and sponsors and extended her best wishes to all.

The event organising committee was lead by students, Rabindranath Biswas (MBA Hospital Management) and Pratima Patil (MBA Pharmaceutical Management), and they were guided by the Organizing Secretary’s team, Prof Arte, Assistant Prof Vibhavari Rane, Assistant Prof Archana Mishra and Assistant Prof Jayalaxmi Shinde.