Title: Improving the efficiency of healthcare supply chain in Thailand

Authors: Duangpun Kritchanchai; Sophon Muangchoo; W.K. Albert Tan

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Putthamonthon Sai 4 Rd., Salaya, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand ' Centre of Logistics Management, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Putthamonthon Sai 4 Rd., Salaya, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand ' Malaysia Institute for Supply Chain Innovation, No. 2A, Persiaran Tebar Layar, Seksyen U8, Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam, 40150 Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: Electronic data interchange (EDI) has been very successfully implemented in the manufacturing sector but not in healthcare supply chain (HSC). In the case of the healthcare sector, the adoption of EDI to facilitate interoperability between HSC partners, in particular the pharmaceutical companies and hospitals, is rather slow. One of the reasons is the use of data standard in this EDI system. In this research, several conditions ranging from manual method to the use of an automated EDI system with standard data in a centralised datapool, to accomplish information exchange between a hospital and its suppliers were evaluated. The results indicated that the use of such an EDI system with the centralised datapool would reinforce collaboration between HSC partners and improve its supply chain efficiency.

Keywords: electronic data interchange; EDI; healthcare supply chain; HSC; centralised datapool; Thailand.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEH.2018.101452

International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, 2018 Vol.10 No.4, pp.313 - 329

Accepted: 31 May 2019
Published online: 07 Aug 2019 *

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