Thematic review of healthcare supply chain in disasters with challenges and future research directions

Frequent natural disasters cause anxiety in almost every nation. The distribution of healthcare essentials to disaster locations is a substantial aspect of reducing the negative effects of disasters on survivors. The concept of a healthcare supply chain (HSC) from a disaster perspective (DHSC), which is responsible for the effective and efficient distribution of essential medical equipment and medicines, is in a nascent stage, with limited contributions. Hence, this study aimed to conduct a thematic literature review (LR) using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) method to investigate the implications of the HSC from the disaster perspective and identify the respective themes with a future research scope. Since this is a first-ofits-kind LR to explore all possible facets of the DHSC, like various themes with phase-wise challenges, thematic future scope, methodology, and outcomes of the scientific literature on the DHSC. The study reviewed 71 relevant research articles published between 2011 and 2023 and illustrated a thematic framework of the 14 identified DHSC themes, DHSC operations to better treat disaster victims, logistics network design for emergency medical items, DHSC resilience, and disaster preparedness have received more attention than leadership management during the DHSC, medical waste management, corporate social responsibility towards disaster, and resource orchestration. Finally, this study offers various research opportunities in the direction of the DHSC, which may take this significant area to next level. The study also shows possible challenges in the direction of future research to reinforce the DHSC for any futuristic and astonishing disaster/pandemic.