U.S. Army's Management of Medical Supplies in Europe Needs Improvement

Gao ID: LCD-76-411 October 19, 1976

An unclassified digest is provided of a classified report on the U.S. Army's management of medical supplies in Europe. The Army's wholesale medical supply system costs more than available alternatives. The existing system's higher costs are not offset by improved supply effectiveness or reduced risks. The Army in Europe could supply its hospitals directly from the U.S. as the Air Force does rather than operating through a wholesale depot operation in Europe. One-time savings of at least $2.7 million would result from a change to the direct support system through elimination of excesses and shortened order-ship times. The Army could not adequately identify what war reserve stocks were on hand at the depot; there were shortages in combat-zone hospitals; and the war reserve stock may not be fully deployable in a war.

Recommendations

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