The Role of Storage Facilities in Enhancing Cold-Chain Operational Efficiency for Pharmaceutical Distribution in Tanzania

This study examined the effect of storage infrastructure availability on cold value chain efficiency for pharmaceutical products at the Medical Stores Department in Tanzania. A quantitative approach was applied using a structured questionnaire administered to 110 respondents drawn from key operational departments. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis with SPSS version 27. Descriptive findings indicated consistently positive perceptions of storage infrastructure, with agreement and strong agreement across the indicators ranging from approximately 84 per cent to 91 per cent. The mean scores for refrigeration units, Internet of Things (IoT)-based tracking systems and warehouse capacity ranged from 4.08 to 4.15, while the standard deviation values ranged from 0.55 to 0.60, indicating limited variation in respondents' views. The regression results showed a strong positive relationship between storage infrastructure availability and cold value chain efficiency (R = 0.752). The coefficient of determination indicated that storage infrastructure availability explained 56.5 per cent of the variation in cold chain efficiency (R² = 0.565), while the model was statistically significant (F = 140.214, p = 0.000). The beta coefficient further showed a positive and significant effect of storage infrastructure availability on cold chain efficiency (B = 0.603, β = 0.752, p = 0.000). The findings suggest that adequate refrigeration units, sufficient cold storage facilities and appropriate warehouse capacity contribute to improved quality preservation, reduced spoilage risk and more reliable pharmaceutical service delivery. The study recommends continued investment in modern storage facilities, reliable backup power systems and coordinated monitoring mechanisms to strengthen cold value chain performance for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products.