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OpenLMIS COVID-19 Edition

In this unprecedented time of COVID-19, highly responsive supply chain decision making is more critical than ever. In order to effectively respond to the pandemic, national governments and NGOs face the difficult task of ensuring that sufficient stock of vaccines, PPE, and testing supplies are available at the right places at the right time, and the location and functional status of equipment like ventilators are monitored. COVID-related products are not part of routine ordering and inventory management systems, so countries are having to quickly adapt to be able to track and replenish supplies.

To meet this need we created OpenLMIS COVID-19 Edition- a new, simplified configuration of OpenLMIS that can be quickly deployed for the integrated management of COVID-related supplies. 

OpenLMIS COVID Edition is designed to be used at scale, by national governments and large NGOs to incorporate COVID-related supplies into their supply operations. OpenLMIS for COVID has all the same features and functionality of OpenLMIS, packaged into a tool that is technically simpler, quicker to deploy, and designed specifically for COVID vaccines, PPE, and other related products. The tool enables supply orders to be placed from warehouses, and tracks the order until it is fulfilled and delivered. It also supports the tracking of consumption to inform future replenishments.

Overview of OpenLMIS COVID-19 Edition Features

  • Stock management at all levels of the supply chain. Track stock of vaccines, PPE, and COVID supplies (for details re: vaccine support see our latest OpenLMIS COVID Edition Overview)
  • Proof of delivery to track shipments and order fulfillment
  • Track equipment location and operational status for ventilators and other COVID-related equipment (for details see our Equipment Management demo video)
  • Dashboard and reports for national, sub-national and facility level users
  • Pre-defined base COVID-19 product list is applied based on WHO recommended products
  • Product catalogue management via and integration with the Product Catalog Management Tool (PCMT) to create and update product lists 

Vaccine Tracking

OpenLMIS COVID Edition allows you to track consumption and stock on hand of vaccines in real time, as well as account for stockouts and wastage. Program Managers can track shipments, deliveries, and note whether they are on-time or delayed. The user experience is designed to be simple and only collect the data that is important to its users.

Equipment Tracking

This tool also allows for tracking the location and functional status of equipment. Ventilators, oxygen concentrators, lab equipment and other devices are critical to providing diagnostic and treatment services. The location and functional status of these equipment have a bearing on repair and maintenance needs, and resupply of products required to operate them. Ongoing tracking of these equipment can help with visibility into actual capacity and future investments.

Rapid Decision-making 

  • Specifically designed for emergency-setting deployment, this tool requires minimal configuration
  • Cloud-based, avoiding in-country hosting infrastructure and reduced technical HR requirements
  • While normal OpenLMIS deployments can take many months of preparation and roll-out, this tool can be up and running in country 4 weeks after request received from MoH

Faster to Train, Easy to Use

  • OpenLMIS team supports rapid remote training process and system set up
  • Product lists are pre-populated according to WHO guidance
  • Simple workflows for ease of use
  • Integration with the PCMT enables simplified product management for system administrators

Easy Startup                                                                                          

  • There is no pre-requisite to have an existing eLMIS in place to adopt this tool
  • Minimal infrastructure requirements- system can work on just basic computers with internet access.
  • No license fee
  • Dedicated core team to support configuration and deployment
  • Minimal cost to countries comprising of cloud hosting, country-based project team, training costs, and computer and internet access to end users

Data for decision-making: Auto-generated reports

In the fast changing environment of a pandemic, real-time data visibility is a pre-requisite for a well-coordinated response. Advanced reporting and dashboard capabilities allow users to easily visualize key data points to showcase how much stock is being consumed, and what is needed for the future.

Integration with Product Catalogue Management Tool (PCMT)

PCMT is an open source tool that allows organizations to publish and manage product catalogues and interoperates with other systems used in LMICs using global standards including GS1. PCMT helps health care supply chains work for everyone by facilitating product information management, master data management and interoperability. Integration with the PCMT creates consistent product identifiers for products across the supply chain to:

  • Streamline master data management
  • Reconcile inconsistent product information
  • Generate useful data and reports across various systems and stakeholders

By integrating OpenLMIS with PCMT, we connect OpenLMIS to robust product data used thoroughout the supply chain and health enterprise. This synergy bolsters the quality and efficiency of your supply chain in OpenLMIS, and unlocks further insights into how your supply chain is working for the health of your clients.

For more information about OpenLMIS COVID-19 Edition: