Reimagining Health Logistics in Mali: A Digital Leap Forward

A ProCHW records a home visit in her app in Yirimadio.

Efficient management of medical supplies remains a major challenge for health systems, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Stockouts, overstocking, and lack of traceability severely impact the quality of care, especially at the community level, and even more so in remote areas. To address these persistent issues, Muso launched its new Digital Input Management Tool on May 12th, a groundbreaking solution designed specifically for use at the community level.

Muso has taken a significant step forward by introducing this digital input management tool, paired with a programmatic dashboard. This initiative leverages technology to improve the availability of medical supplies, promote their rational use, and strengthen traceability. The application enables real-time tracking of stock levels across multiple levels of the health system - from health center depots to community-based distribution points. With this tool, teams can anticipate shortages, adjust supply chains, and enhance responsiveness across the medication distribution network.

“Previously, stock management relied on manual reports from Professional Community Health Workers (proCHWs), who used paper stock sheets during group meetings with supervisors. This system, limited by the lack of real-time monitoring, did not allow for immediate verification or anticipation of needs,” explains Sory Ibrahim N’Diaye, Muso's Digital Product Quality Manager.

“This led to unexpected stockouts, undocumented losses, and situations where some ProCHWs had large quantities of medicines while others faced shortages. Today, thanks to digitalization, data is available in real time, enabling quick, informed, and data-driven decision-making,” he adds.

In practice, the application allows supervisors to monitor each ProCHW’s stock levels via a centralized dashboard. It identifies the most frequently used medicines, supervision zones with the most critical needs, and sites requiring specific inputs. Each time a ProCHW administers a medication, the app automatically deducts the corresponding dose from the stock, ensuring rigorous traceability.

This initiative aligns with a broader global effort to address medicine stockouts. In sub-Saharan Africa, the situation is particularly concerning. A study conducted in Tanzania showed that implementing a national electronic logistics management system reduced stockouts from 32% to 23%, demonstrating the power of digital solutions in strengthening supply chains.

Muso’s tool builds on this momentum and is tailored to the realities of our work in communities. It helps reduce stockouts, optimize procurement, document losses, and ensure greater availability of essential medicines for communities in intervention areas.

This digitalization of input management marks a major advancement for community health in Mali. It provides a concrete solution to logistical barriers, enhances care quality, and supports stronger relationships between communities and the health system.