The Neglected Tropical Diseases Supply Chain Forum (NTD- SCF) is a multi-stakeholder Collaboration of NTD partners solving supply chain challenges in delivering NTD interventions. The NTD-SCF is hosted by the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), a sister program of The Task Force for Global Health (The Task Force) The Forum was previously managed by Children Without Worms (CWW). Please see below for a list of NTD-SCF partners:

Accomplishments of NTD-SCF

Stakeholders come together on a quarterly basis to collaborate on finding solutions to first-mile challenges and support last-mile challenges in delivering medicines used to treat NTDs such as trachoma, soil-transmitted helminths, schistosomiasis, and lymphatic filariasis. Cassandra Holloway elaborates, “The NTD Supply Chain Forum provides a common platform for all members and partners to come together and explore options beyond Excel workbooks to manage the NTD drug supply chain using a web-based platform.”

The common platform is NTDeliver, a 24/7 online platform that collects information from all stakeholders to monitor and evaluate the NTD supply chain in a transparent and efficient way. This worked well as stakeholders were designated certain roles and responsibilities to report the journey of the NTD drugs from production to delivery. To date, NTDeliver has more than 1,600 subscribers representing 98 countries. The NTD-SCF aims to make sure every country receiving NTD drugs utilizes NTDeliver.

Link: www.NTDeliver.com 

Weekly Email Subscription Link:  www.ntdeliver.com/subscribers/new?locale=en

Other accomplishments of the NTD-SCF, in collaboration with WHO, include the following tools: 

• Standard operating procedures for supply chain management of health products for neglected tropical diseases amenable to preventive chemotherapy: WHO plays a pivotal role in managing the supply chain for health products used in treating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). The first edition of their guidelines outlines standard operating procedures for preventive chemotherapy and the range of medicines donated for these conditions, such as albendazole and azithromycin. These guidelines, prepared in collaboration with the NTD Supply Chain Forum, are designed for mass drug administration and are adaptable to country-specific needs. Future editions will expand to include individual case management procedures.
  
  Link: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049581
   
• Supply chain management of NTD health products for NTD programmes OpenWHO: Effective supply chain management is crucial for controlling and eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) through Mass Drug Administration (MDA). This course covers the comprehensive process, from planning and requesting donated drugs to managing waste and unused tablets. It's designed as essential knowledge for all tiers of the health system involved in MDA for conditions like trachoma and lymphatic filariasis.
  
  Link: https://openwho.org/courses/NTDs-supply-chain-management
   
• JAP Frequently Asked Questions: The WHO has updated its FAQ on the "PC Joint Application Package" (JAP) to enhance user understanding and streamline the process for requesting donated medicines for specific Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). The updated FAQ, generated from a global survey involving national program managers to donors, complements existing training resources and guidelines. It covers everything from application procedures to approval timelines, aiming to ensure timely delivery of treatments for targeted populations. The JAP Working Group, part of the NTD Supply Chain Forum, vets the answers, and the FAQ will be updated periodically.
  
  Website Link: https://www.who.int/teams/control-of-neglected-tropical-diseases/interventions/strategies/preventive-chemotherapy/joint-application-package/frequently-asked-questions  
  
  PDF link: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/faqs-the-joint-application-package-for-preventive-chemotherapy-planning-requesting-medicines-and-reporting