Contraceptive logistics management system in Georgia

To response the high abortion and low contraceptive prevalence rate in Georgia, two JSI projects, funded by USAID, introduced and maintained contraceptive logistics management system (CLMS), focusing on improving contraceptive availability through public sector provision of contraceptives and ongoing policy dialog with the private sector. An extensive contraceptive security and availability assessment of both public and private sectors found that about 40% of women especially in rural areas could not afford commercially-available contraceptives. The Ministry of Labor Health and Social Affairs (MoLHSA) had extremely week contraceptive logistics system (CLS). A waver was secured from MoLHSA to liberalize provision of family planning services at the primary health care level. CLMS focused on training in basic concepts of CLS - a major weakness in Georgian Health System. A simple CLS working on central, rayon and village level is put into place. USAID donated contraceptives are distributed to about 800 sites in Georgia. Since 2003, over 2000 providers and 1500 pharmacies have been trained to counsel and provide clients on modern contraceptive options. Georgia Reproductive Health Survey 2010 demonstrated unprecedented reduction of abortion rate from 3.4 to 1.6 and increase in modern contraceptive prevalence from 20% to 35% among married women. CLMS plays a key role for distributing free contraceptive in targeted areas and controlling product samples and demand creation material for socially marketed contraceptives. This facilitates a smooth transition away from free distribution of contraceptives for providers and continuing/new users who will gradually seek to obtain their contraceptive of choice in pharmacies.