From supply to strategy: leveraging central medical stores experiences and information for health system strengthening

Abstract

The availability and affordability of essential medicines and other health products are critical to building resilient health systems and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). In many Francophone African countries, Central Medical Stores (CMS) play a key role in procuring and distributing medicines for the public sector. As such, they generate first-hand data and knowledge on availability, pricing, and the performance of national supply chains. This Comment argues that CMS should be recognised not only as technical providers, but as strategic partners in national pharmaceutical policy and health system governance. Despite their constraints and the challenging environments in which they operate, CMS routinely generate supply-chain data that often remain underused beyond day-to-day operations. Where existing data sources on access to medicines are incomplete or unavailable, CMS data can help fill key gaps and inform planning, monitoring, and policy decisions. To operationalise this shift, we propose strengthening CMS analytical and policy-interface capacity and formalising collaboration and governance mechanisms with Ministries of Health and partners.