As the global healthcare industry continues to grow and evolve, the supply chain function remains in focus to capitalize on new opportunities, adapt to market changes, and address emerging risks.

From supporting service plan expansions to managing costs and delivering on sustainability goals, supply chain leaders play a critical role in the success of healthcare organizations. To better understand the challenges and opportunities ahead, we conducted a survey of over 100 executives from healthcare organizations around the world.

In this report, we explore strategic priorities, risk management, sustainability programs, talent management, leadership skills, and supply chain resiliency. A special thanks to our three executive contributors listed below for their invaluable and candid insights into their organizations and industry trends.

Whether you’re a seasoned supply chain professional or just starting out in your career, we hope this report will provide actionable insights and guidance for navigating the complex and ever-changing world of healthcare supply chain management.

Key learnings

1. Reducing product gaps is the highest priority for supply chain leaders.
2. Rising costs and a lack of qualified workers are the biggest challenges this year.
3. 8 out of 10 supply chain leaders plan to expand their teams but are facing recruitment challenges.
4. Not enough qualified candidates is the greatest recruitment challenge, followed by not being able to meet compensation requirements.
5. Supply chain leaders are highly patient-centric with interruptions to patient care being their greatest concern.
6. Diversifying suppliers and improving evaluation and monitoring processes are the primary strategies used to increase resiliency.
7. 78% of respondents believe managing supply chain operations has become harder or much harder than five years ago.
8. Only 7% of leaders are highly prepared for key staff departures, and 8 in 10 believe retaining staff is harder or much harder than five years ago.
9. 1 in 3 leaders believe that a positive work environment is the most important factor for talent retention.
10. The primary ways to control costs are to improve efficiency and reduce waste, and explore alternative suppliers.
11. 3 out of 4 leaders believe their supply chain is more resilient after the pandemic, and 64% are onboarding more national suppliers.
12. Communication skills, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills are the three most important competencies for supply chain leaders.

Executive Contributors

In addition to our data-driven survey with 106 senior leaders, we conducted three in-depth interviews with the healthcare executives listed below. We extend our deep gratitude to these highly accomplished professionals for sharing their valuable insights and experiences.

• Sergio Baumann, Head of the Operations Department, Member of the Executive Board, Kantonsspital Aarau KSA
• Ruud Plu, CEO, Intrakoop
• Martin Rupprecht, HR Director OÖG, Upper Austria

Life Sciences & Healthcare Practice Group

This report was created by the Life Sciences & Healthcare Practice Group with IIC Partners consultants collaborating across our global offices. We extend a special thanks to the consultants who led data collection, conducted executive interviews, and provided subject matter expertise.

Learn more about our Life Sciences and Healthcare Practice Group >

About IIC Partners

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