Healthcare supply chain information systems via service-oriented architecture

Abstract

Healthcare supply chain management differs from other applications in terms of its keyelements. The misalignment, high costs for healthcare providers and heavy dependence on third parties, distributors, and manufacturers are the main trouble making issues forthe healthcare supply chain. At the same time, some of the supply chain components of the health sector have a different position compared to the other materials that are taking place in the other supply chains. In particular, the specific consumables used in the surgical operations bear a significant importance in terms of the usage and the costs. In some cases, the doctors may not have a strict opinion on the exact quantity of the consumables they will use during the operation before starting it. On the other hand, it is not always possibleto have all these materials in the stock because of their high cost. Moreover, due to the inefficiencies in the social security system in Turkey, the social security institutions do notalways accept to pay the price of the materials used. Worse still, the related information generally reaches with a significant delay to the hospital management. © 2010 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved.