Adapt and Flex or Die: A Systems Approach to an Unhealthy Healthcare Supply

ABSTRACT

Healthcare supply chains are becoming increasingly complex and characterized by rapid and unpredictable changes, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. This unpredictability means supply chains are challenged from all levels. Patients, employees and society are all sources of uncertainty resulting with the need for supply chains to be healthier. This research explores the need for healthcare supply chains to be more adaptable and flexible. A literature informed design science approach was adopted as the methodology. We propose a systems view of an adaptive and flexible healthcare supply chain. Furthermore, we build system dynamic models to illustrate an unhealthy healthcare supply chain and a healthy healthcare supply chain. Theoretical supply chain conceptual frameworks and information systems concepts were synthesized to propose models that look to solve some of the supply chain problems arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. © 2021, ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.