Electronic logistics management information system and supply chain performance in public health facilities in Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Introduction: Efficient and transparent supply chain systems are essential for sustained access to medicines and health commodities. Uganda's Ministry of Health introduced the Electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS) to strengthen inventory control, reporting, and logistics decision-making; however, evidence on the extent of its adoption, depth of utilization, and measurable effect on supply chain performance at facility level remains limited. Objective: To assess the adoption and utilization of eLMIS and their effect on supply chain performance in public health facilities in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA). Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive–analytical study was conducted in 60 public health facilities across Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, and Mpigi districts, with one purposively selected respondent responsible for medicines management per facility. Data were collected through structured facility assessments, staff interviews, and document review of tracer-commodity records. Analysis in IBM SPSS Statistics version 28 employed descriptive statistics, chi-square and independent-samples t-tests, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression with facility level as a control variable. Results: Overall, 55.0% (33/60; 95% CI: 41.6–67.9%) of facilities had adopted eLMIS, with adoption increasing by level of care: 45.5% of Health Centre IIIs, 72.7% of Health Centre IVs, and 100% of hospitals. Among adopters, the system was used predominantly for reporting (90.9%) and inventory management (81.8%), and facilities with trained staff recorded higher utilization than those without (mean 4.0 vs 3.2). Compared with non-adopters, eLMIS facilities had fewer stock-outs of tracer medicines (21% vs 52%; χ² = 6.13, p = 0.013), fewer expired batches (mean 3.1 vs 7.4; p = 0.005), and shorter order lead times (3.2 vs 4.6 weeks; p = 0.033). eLMIS utilization independently predicted supply chain performance after adjusting for facility level (β = 0.61, p < 0.001), with the model explaining 44% of performance variance (R² = 0.44). Conclusion: eLMIS adoption and, more decisively, the intensity of its utilization were associated with superior supply chain performance. Scaling these benefits equitably requires targeted investment in infrastructure, staff training, and supportive supervision, particularly at Health Centre III level, alongside routine monitoring of objective supply chain indicators. Keywords: electronic Logistics Management Information System; eLMIS; supply chain performance; adoption; utilization; public health facilities; Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area; Uganda