Health Serv Deliv Res 2014;2(55)
- This review sought to describe approaches to procurement and supply chain management in selected areas including, but not limited to, manufacturing and automotive sectors, defence, information and communication technology, and pharmaceutical industries and identify best practices that may inform procurement and supply chain management in the NHS.
- It examined 73 studies from published and grey literature in a range of non-health-care and health-care sectors from 2006 onwards.
- The review was complemented by interviews with a small set of purchasing stakeholders working within and with the NHS.
- The review found that collective approaches to purchasing, improving relationships with suppliers, building capabilities and skills for purchasing decisions in the NHS, and the use of technology for data and materials management may lead to more efficient procurement and potentially save costs.
- However, published studies were often poorly conducted and described.
