The influence of good distribution practice compliance on pharmaceutical supply chain performance in Nigeria

Good Distribution Practice (GDP) compliance is critical to ensuring the integrity, safety, and efficiency of pharmaceutical supply chains, particularly in developing economies where infrastructural and regulatory challenges persist. This study examines the influence of GDP compliance on pharmaceutical supply chain performance in Nigeria, focusing on four core dimensions: traceability and serialization, handling and packaging practices, storage and warehousing compliance, and quality control and monitoring. Adopting a survey research design, data were collected from 251 employees in logistics, supply chain, and sales/marketing departments of pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria. Descriptive statistics and simple linear regression analyses were employed to test the study hypotheses. The findings reveal that all four dimensions of GDP compliance exert a statistically significant positive effect on pharmaceutical supply chain performance, measured in terms of product availability, delivery reliability, quality integrity, and responsiveness. The study concludes that strengthening GDP compliance is of strategic importance to improving supply chain outcomes and safeguarding public health in Nigeria. It recommends enhanced regulatory enforcement, investment in traceability technologies, improved warehousing infrastructure, and continuous quality monitoring as pathways to achieving sustainable pharmaceutical supply chain performance.