ReviewEClinicalMedicine2026
Drug stock-outs in HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programs: a systematic review.
Review in EClinicalMedicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
14 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Background: Stock-outs of antiretroviral, anti-tuberculosis, and anti-malarial medicines remain a major challenge in low- and middle-income countries, affecting both health systems and patient outcomes. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the causes, consequences, and mitigation strategies related to these stock-outs. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted for studies published between 01, January 2000 and 17, March 2026. Studies reporting stock-outs of antiretroviral or/and anti-tuberculosis or/and anti-malarial medicines were included, while those published before 2000 or focusing on other medicines were excluded. Findings were synthesized using a non-quantitative approach and heterogeneity was assessed qualitatively. The quality of the studies was evaluated using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal check list. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021296472). Findings: Of 10,158 screened records, 56 studies were included. Key causes of stock-outs included supply chain inefficiencies, procurement delays, inadequate funding, weak governance, and poor demand forecasting. Consequences included treatment interruptions, increased drug resistance, and higher morbidity and mortality, along with increased out-of-pocket costs and emergency procurement burdens. Mitigation strategies ranged from short-term responses, such as emergency purchasing and redistribution, to long-term system strengthening, including improved procurement systems, buffer stocks, supplier diversification, and digital inventory management. Interpretation: Review demonstrates that the causes of reported stock-outs in HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programmes are largely preventable and the solutions lie in fortifying supply chain system with better forecasting robust logistics and sufficient financing. Funding: Wellcome trust CAMO-Net programme and Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.