Pandemic response and humanitarian logistics

Gyöngyi Kovacs, Tina Comes, Ioanna Falagara Sigala

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterProfessional

Abstract

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have been exacerbated by unpredictable human behaviour, a lack of coordination and disrupted health supply chains. As we will be confronted with more epidemics and pandemics in the future, in this chapter, we develop an overview of the most critical lessons learned from humanitarian (health) logistics that can be applied to pandemic response to prevent disruptions and ensure an efficient and fair delivery of health services. Starting from an overview of lessons from past pandemics, we investigate two specific supply chain problems in the Covid19 response: (i) the PPE supply chain at the onset of the pandemic as a case for rapid scale-up, and (ii) the vaccine supply chains that combine volatile supply and demand with the complexity of large batch-sizes and demanding cold chain requirements. For each part, we develop concrete lessons learned and make recommendations for tools from humanitarian logistics that can be applied to the specific health logistics challenge.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHumanitarian Logistics : Meeting the Challenge of Preparing for and Responding to Disasters and Complex Emergencies
EditorsGraham Heaslip, Peter Tatham
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherKogan Page
Publication date2023
Edition4th
Pages247-264
ISBN (Print)978-1-3986-0716-3, 978-1-3986-0714-9
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-3986-0715-6
Publication statusPublished - 2023
MoE publication typeD2 Article in a professional reserarch book (incl. editor's introduction, manuals, guides)

Keywords

  • 512 Business and Management

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  • HEROS: Health Emergency Response in Interconnected Systems

    Kovacs, G. (Project coordinator), Falagara Sigala, I. (Project participant), Hamid Abakar, A. (Project participant) & Sarker, S. (Project participant)

    01.04.202031.05.2023

    Project: Externally funded project

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