⚠ Official Notice: www.ijisrt.com is the official website of the International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT) Journal for research paper submission and publication. Please beware of fake or duplicate websites using the IJISRT name.



Effect of Cold Chain Infrastructure on Distribution Effectiveness of Heat-Sensitive Pharmaceuticals: A Case of Rwanda Medical Supply Ltd


Authors : Ganza Jackson; Dr. Martin Kang'ethe Gachukia; Ishimwe Immaculee

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 10 - October


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/yx3yjkx6

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26Oct1253

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : This study assessed the effect of cold chain infrastructure on the distribution effectiveness of heat-sensitive pharmaceuticals at Rwanda Medical Supply Ltd (RMS). Specifically, it examined the effects of cold chain equipment reliability, personnel competence, adequacy and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and temperature monitoring systems on distribution effectiveness. The study was grounded in Supply Chain Management and Systems theories and adopted a mixed-methods descriptive and correlational research design. Data were collected from a stratified random sample of 109 RMS employees involved in cold chain operations using structured questionnaires and were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression.

Keywords : Cold Chain Infrastructure, Equipment Reliability, Personnel Competence, Standard Operating Procedures, Temperature Monitoring Systems, Distribution Effectiveness.

References :

  1. Asamoah, A., Ebu Enyan, N. I., Diji, A. K.-A., & Domfeh, C. (2021). Cold chain management by healthcare providers at a district in Ghana: A mixed methods study. BioMed Research International, 2021(1), 7559984. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/7559984
  2. Ashok, A., Brison, M., & LeTallec, Y. (2017). Improving cold chain systems: Challenges and solutions. Vaccine, 35(17), 2217–2223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.08.045
  3. Aung, M. M., & Chang, Y. S. (2014). Temperature management for the quality assurance of a perishable food supply chain. Food Control, 40, 198–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.11.016
  4. Komang Dian Aditya Putra, G. A. Desya Pradnyaswari, Ni Luh Putu Taksayani Putri, & Rini Noviyani. (2025). Evaluation of standard operating procedures for carrying vaccines at Tabanan District Health Office. Jurnal Farmasi Galenika, 12(1), 57–70. https://doi.org/10.70410/jfg.v12i1.387
  5. Kumar, N., & Jha, A. (2017). Temperature excursion management: A novel approach of quality system in pharmaceutical industry. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 25(2), 176–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2016.07.001
  6. Lennon, P., Atuhaire, B., Yavari, S., Sampath, V., Mvundura, M., Ramanathan, N., & Robertson, J. (2017). Root cause analysis underscores the importance of understanding, addressing, and communicating cold chain equipment failures to improve equipment performance. Vaccine, 35(17), 2198–2202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.09.068
  7. Li, Y., Chen, K., Collignon, S., & Ivanov, D. (2021). Ripple effect in the supply chain network: Forward and backward disruption propagation, network health and firm vulnerability. European Journal of Operational Research, 291(3), 1117–1131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2020.09.053
  8. Lutukai, M., Bunde, E. A., Hatch, B., Mohamed, Z., Yavari, S., Some, E., Chweya, A., Kania, C., Ross, J. C., Keddem, C., & Chandani, Y. (2019). Using data to keep vaccines cold in Kenya: Remote temperature monitoring with data review teams for vaccine management. Global Health: Science and Practice, 7(4), 585–597. https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-19-00157
  9. Manavalan, E., & Jayakrishna, K. (2019). A review of Internet of Things (IoT) embedded sustainable supply chain for Industry 4.0 requirements. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 127, 925–953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2018.11.030
  10. Mehralian, G., Zarenezhad, F., & Rajabzadeh Ghatari, A. (2015). Developing a model for an agile supply chain in pharmaceutical industry. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, 9(1), 74–91. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPHM-09-2013-0050
  11. Nyirimanzi, J. D., Ngenzi, J., Kagisha, V., Bizimana, T., & Kayitare, E. (2023). Assessment of medicines cold chain storage conformity with the requirements of the World Health Organization in health facilities of the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 16(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-023-00534-3
  12. Olutuase, V. O., Iwu-Jaja, C. J., Akuoko, C. P., Adewuyi, E. O., & Khanal, V. (2022). Medicines and vaccines supply chains challenges in Nigeria: A scoping review. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12361-9
  13. O’Leary, N., & Boland, P. (2020). Organization and system theories in interprofessional research: A scoping review. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 34(1), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2019.1632815
  14. Sethy, G., Nenani Chisema, M., Sharma, L., Folorunso, O., Haile, D., Reda Berri, Z., Joshi, K., Ntenje, M., Mitambo, C., Laher, B., Singhal, S., Chirwa, S., Damte, T., Zulu, F., Eleonore Ba, A., Seidel, M., & Phuka, J. (2022). Key lessons learned from the immunization supply chain of Malawi, an African country using EVM2.0. Vaccine: X, 12, 100239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvacx.2022.100239
  15. Tsang, Y. P., Choy, K. L., Wu, C. H., Ho, G. T. S., Lam, C. H. Y., & Koo, P. S. (2018). An Internet of Things (IoT)-based risk monitoring system for managing cold supply chain risks. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 118(7), 1432–1462. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-09-2017-0384

This study assessed the effect of cold chain infrastructure on the distribution effectiveness of heat-sensitive pharmaceuticals at Rwanda Medical Supply Ltd (RMS). Specifically, it examined the effects of cold chain equipment reliability, personnel competence, adequacy and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and temperature monitoring systems on distribution effectiveness. The study was grounded in Supply Chain Management and Systems theories and adopted a mixed-methods descriptive and correlational research design. Data were collected from a stratified random sample of 109 RMS employees involved in cold chain operations using structured questionnaires and were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression.

Keywords : Cold Chain Infrastructure, Equipment Reliability, Personnel Competence, Standard Operating Procedures, Temperature Monitoring Systems, Distribution Effectiveness.

Paper Submission Last Date
30 - November - 2026

SUBMIT YOUR PAPER CALL FOR PAPERS
Video Explanation for Published paper

Never miss an update from Papermashup

Get notified about the latest tutorials and downloads.

Subscribe by Email

Get alerts directly into your inbox after each post and stay updated.
Subscribe
OR

Subscribe by RSS

Add our RSS to your feedreader to get regular updates from us.
Subscribe