LAPTOP Scholar applies logistics learning to Peru’s healthcare sector

Meet Jaime Villegas

Jaime Villegas, a LAPTOP scholar from the LAC region, recently completed a Supply Chain Management course at the Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara (México). It has enriched his role on the Technical Team for Access to Medicines at Peru’s General Office of Medications, Supplies and Drugs (DIGEMID). His primary responsibilities include preparing regulatory proposals that contribute to improving medicine, medical device- and sanitary product supply-related processes in Peru’s healthcare sector.

In his nine-month course of study, Jaime completed various practical and theoretical modules, finding demand planning particularly interesting, as it directly impacts the accuracy of supply programming and availability of medicines and medical devices, especially including reproductive health (RH) supplies.

Jaime is now applying his newfound knowledge to improving the demand planning processes by developing a manual to standardize demand planning and programming procedures and improve staff technical skills, thus improving the availability and access to medicines, medical devices and sanitary products, including RH supplies, at the national and regional levels of Peru’s health ministry.

Jaime acknowledges the challenges faced by the supply chain system in Peru such as timely procurement and distribution of essential supplies, particularly in areas with difficult access, and is committed to joint efforts to improve supply and availability of these products, including contraceptives and therefore, help reduce adolescent pregnancies.

Jaime encourages aspiring applicants to seize opportunities like the LAPTOP scholarship. “Such opportunities will expand one’s knowledge and contribute significantly to improving the life of people, especially in critical sectors like healthcare,” he says.