A Scoping Review of Safeguarding Healthcare Supply Chains: Corruption in the Procurement of Essential Medicines and Equipment during Emergencies

Introduction: This study aimed to critically examine the vulnerabilities of healthcare systems to corruption and to analyze corrupt practices in the procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies during crises, with a particular focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This comprehensive scoping review was conducted in 2024 following the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. The literature search encompassed four major electronic databases, supplemented by manual searches of relevant reports, conference proceedings, and gray literature. A two-reviewer screening process was implemented to determine eligibility based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extraction was performed using a standardized form, and results were synthesized in tabular format to facilitate the identification of key concepts, types of evidence, and research gaps concerning corruption in the procurement of essential medicines and equipment during emergencies. Results: From an initial yield of 4,294 articles, duplicates and irrelevant studies were removed, resulting in 34 articles eligible for full analysis. The review identified twelve predominant types of corruption that were particularly significant during the pandemic. Conclusion: This scoping review highlights twelve broad categories of corruption that emerged as critical issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key forms of corruption included hoarding, falsification, theft, creation of fictitious bidders, procurement above the market price, document forgery, invoice falsification, failure to deliver goods, bribery, misappropriation, money laundering, abuse of power or position, nepotism, and favoritism. These findings provide valuable insights for healthcare managers and policymakers, facilitating the development of targeted strategies to prevent corruption and promote administrative integrity within medical supply chains, particularly in crisis contexts.