| dc.description.abstract | The Tanzanian health commodity supply chain has gradually improved since the decentralisation of the health information system began in 1999. As a part of the decentralisation process, the supply chain management has improved in terms of making information timelier available to decision-makers at lower-level health care units. Still, access and use of information are limited at some levels of the health hierarchy. This thesis examines the role of financial information in health commodity procurement processes at the lower-level health care units in the public health system in Tanzania. It does so, by discussing different models of distributing health commodities to study the role of financial information in different supply chain contexts. Further, the thesis considers what the informational needs, within each distribution model, requires of the information system for logistic management to be accessed and used. This is done to define how logistic management information systems can promote the role of financial information in supply chain decision-making. The research is based on a case study in Tanzania, where the supply chain is investigated. The case study involves interviews and observations of 45 participants from the public health system. The focus is to investigate the role of financial information at the lower health care units, to understand how to strengthen the role of financial information for supply chain decision-making at this level. The results of the research show that the role of financial information is limited at the lower health care units in Tanzania. The information is by some means accessible, but not in a timely manner, and neither supported by the logistic management information system. The result is ineffective supplies of health commodities to the lower health care levels, where measures must be made to provide good quality health care services. As a contribution to strengthening the supply chain management in developing countries, this thesis provides research that can be used to define informational needs in different supply chain contexts. These informational needs can be used as a guide for how to improve information systems for logistic management, to promote the role of these informational needs in the supply chain management. | eng |