This ground breaking research produced by FPAB, our Member Association in Bangladesh, and the Human development Research Centre of Bangladesh, quantifies the cost of stock outs, or shortages, of oral contraceptives, condoms and injectables at household level up to national economic level.
This research was commissioned for Project RMA, to provide credible evidence to support advocacy to reduce the gap between the availability of and demand for family planning supplies.
It is the first study of this kind to be conducted at national level.
Key findings include:
- The average loss of net income per household is $15 per year. 50% of the sample group had an annual income of $726 or less.
- On a national scale the cost is 4,306 million hours, the monetary value of this is $876 million.
- For the first time, Bangladesh has experienced a decrease in its contraceptive prevalence rate.
- This is not due to a lack of demand, but due to a lack of availability of contraception.
The research by FPAB (Family Planning Association of Bangladesh) proves that there is adequate funding and a supportive policy environment.
The problems lie with the dysfunctional supply chain. The procurement process has 19 stages, requires 65 different signatures and can take 18-24 months to complete.
The forecasting for future demand for contraceptives at national level is virtually non-existent. This research makes recommendations to address these challenges.
FPAB launched this research report in Dhaka, July 2009. The event was arranged for 90 people but was attended by 200 civil society organizations, the media, donors and government officials.
Since the event the Ministry of Health has formally reviewed the recommendations and has committed to begin implementing recommendations related to increasing the capacity of the supply chain with technical assistance from FPAB.
Shortages, or stock outs, and irregular supply cost the Bangladesh national economy $876 million, and resulted in the loss of 4,306 million hours of labour time.
Historically Bangladesh has been one of the family planning success stories. Recently, however, the contraceptive prevalence rate has decreased for the first time, from 58.1% to 55.8%.