Those who work in reproductive health (RH) know that RH supplies are vital to the wellbeing — and even survival — of women and girls.
Contraceptives, maternal health medicines, menstrual health products, and safe abortion supplies are not nice-to-have items on a wish list. They make the difference between independence and fear. Safety and insecurity. And yes, life and mortality.
But RH supplies cannot save lives on their own.
Today, on World Health Day, global attention turns to the promise of health — including reproductive health — for all. But behind that promise lies a system that is under threat.
Fuel shortages and price spikes linked to geopolitical conflict are directly disrupting medical supply delivery. Transport costs for delivering health supplies have risen with longer routes and delays. The pharmaceutical supply chain is under risk.[i]
Funding is less predictable, with declines in contributions from key donors. Stockouts loom, and programs have closed.
Key Statistic
+14%
The average monthly logins to the VAN in 2025 is up 14% since September 2023. Read more in our 2025 Scorecard Report.
The critical role of data: why visibility matters more than ever
In this environment, supply chains are only as strong as the data that guides them. Accurate, timely data is essential to forecast demand, align procurement with need, prevent stockouts and overstocks, and coordinate across fragmented funding streams.
Collaborative data networks like RHSC’s Global Family Planning Visibility and Analytics Network (VAN) play a critical role in this regard not least because its data feeds into RHViz, a public-facing suite of dashboards integrating and aggregating shipment data from the Global FP VAN to give the RH community unprecedented visibility into the quantities and types of family planning products flowing into country programs around the globe.
The VAN itself has grown in use and relevance: our newly released 2025 VAN Scorecard Report shows that average monthly logins in 2025 reached 1,343 — up 14% since September 2023.
The VAN is grounded in the principle that country governments drive the decisions about product flow into their countries. And despite the challenges faced in 2025, more country governments started to pay for their own subscriptions to the VAN.
The Scorecard shares overwhelmingly positive examples and user perspectives about time saved, crises averted, and access increased. I urge you to take a look. And to join us in safeguarding supplies — and lives — into the future.
“The Scorecard shares overwhelmingly positive examples and user perspectives about time saved, crises averted, and access increased. I urge you to take a look. And to join us in safeguarding supplies — and lives — into the future.”
Martyn Smith
RHSC
[i] https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5805149-iran-war-pharmaceutical-supply-chain/