Newsletter Spring 2010

Supply economics in the hospital system

Hospitals are essential to inpatient care, and are playing an increasingly important role in outpatient care as well. It is therefore no wonder that in the developed, industrialised countries, this cost-intensive component of healthcare is increasingly the focus of efforts to improve quality and cut costs. But what should a high-quality, economical system for supplying medical products to hospitals look like? A long-term study conducted by the Fraunhofer IIS -Center for Applied Research on Supply Chain Services has been examining this question. Dr. Johannes Kriegel, who initiated the study, and Franziska Jehler of the Fraunhofer SCS describe the key areas where potential improvements could be made.