An Empirical Study on Supply Chain Risk Management of Healthcare Sector in Karachi, Pakistan: Issues, Challenges, and Future Agenda

Abstract

This empirical study investigates supply chain risk management in Karachi's healthcare industry. Given the industry's complexity and vulnerability to disruptions, it focuses on the problems and challenges faced by healthcare organizations in
managing supply chain risks. Data is collected through questionnaires, interviews, and case studies involving healthcare experts, supply chain managers, and stakeholders. The findings highlight major risk factors such as inadequate contingency planning, inventory management issues, transportation bottlenecks, and procurement delays. The study identifies difficulties in implementing risk mitigation measures, including resource constraints, infrastructure inadequacies, and regulatory limitations. Based on the analysis, the study proposes a future agenda for enhancing supply chain risk management in Karachi's healthcare industry, including stakeholder collaboration, technology utilization, emergency response systems, and resilient supply chains. This study contributes to the knowledge base on supply chain risk management in healthcare, particularly in developing nations, providing valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare organizations, and supply chain practitioners to enhance their risk management capabilities and ensure uninterrupted healthcare service delivery.