How supply chain information can illustrate policy implementation for changes in malaria diagnosis and treatment

Malaria is an endemic throughout Liberia though it is curable and preventable. It accounts for 35 percent of outpatient attendance and 33 percent of inpatient deaths. The National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) is responsible for the management of malaria. Liberia's NMCP Strategy 2010 to 2015 addresses four core areas: case management, malaria in pregnancy, integrated vector management and behavior change management. Supply chain management of malaria commodities is coordinated through the case management team. With partners, Liberia's NMCP has worked to strengthen the malaria commodity supply chain, supporting the provision of quality and timely reporting, and the use of the data collected for decision-making. These data are collected through the Logistics Management Information System (LMIS). In addition to using the LMIS data for supply chain management decisions it can also be applied to review the implementation of malaria policies. By reviewing LMIS data NMCP can monitor implementation of its policy that dictated universal testing of possible malaria cases before initiating treatment (ACTs). The 2012 consumption for ACTs is lesser then the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) at the Hospital and Health Center levels. This implies that both the Hospital and Health Center are following the malaria strategy plan policy whereas clinic-level data show that in 2011 and 2012, the consumption for the ACTs remains very high while RDTs are less. This implies that at Clinic level ACTs are consumed without following the RDT protocol described in the malaria strategy plan; drugs are given to patient base on clinical symptoms only.