Barriers to achieving sustainability in pharmaceutical supply chains in the post-COVID-19 era
International Journal of Emerging Markets
ISSN: 1746-8809
Article publication date: 4 May 2022
Issue publication date: 12 December 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The recent pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly impacted the operational performances of pharmaceutical supply chains (SCs), especially in emerging economies that are critically vulnerable due to their inadequate resources. Finding the possible barriers that continue to impede the sustainable performance of SCs in the post-COVID-19 era has become essential. This study aims to investigate and analyze the barriers to achieving sustainability in the pharmaceutical SC of an emerging economy in a bid to help decision-makers recognize the most influential barriers.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the goals, two decision-making tools are integrated to analyze the most critical barriers: interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and the matrix of cross-impact multiplications applied to classification (MICMAC). In contrast to other multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches, ISM develops a hierarchical decision tool for decision-makers and cluster analysis of the barriers using the MICMAC method based on their driving and dependency powers.
Findings
The findings reveal that the major barriers are in a four-level hierarchical relationship where “Insufficient SC strategic plans to ensure agility during crisis” acts as the most critical barrier, followed by “Poor information structure among SC contributors,” and “Inadequate risk management policy under pandemic.” Finally, the MICMAC analysis validates the findings from the ISM approach.
Originality/value
This study provides meaningful insights into barriers to achieving sustainability in pharmaceutical SCs in the post-COVID-19 era. The study can help pharmaceutical SC practitioners to better understand what can go wrong in post-COVID-19, and develop actionable strategies to ensure sustainability and resilience in practitioners' SCs.
Keywords
Citation
Liza, S.A., Chowdhury, N.R., Paul, S.K., Morshed, M., Morshed, S.M., Bhuiyan, M.A.T. and Rahim, M.A. (2023), "Barriers to achieving sustainability in pharmaceutical supply chains in the post-COVID-19 era", International Journal of Emerging Markets, Vol. 18 No. 12, pp. 6037-6060. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-11-2021-1680
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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