Human trafficking in healthcare supply chains often underrecognized, expert argues

Editor's Note

Although human trafficking’s infiltration into healthcare labor and supply chains is pervasive, many clinicians and other professionals remain unaware of the extent of the issue, according to a February 3 opinion piece in MedPage Today.

While efforts have focused on identifying trafficking victims in clinical settings, healthcare organizations must also address the exploitation embedded in the sourcing of medical supplies and the labor used for outsourced services, argues Hanni Stoklosa, MD, MPH. Examples range from essential medical goods, such as gloves and surgical instruments, to service roles like janitorial, food service, and construction. In fact, The International Labour Organization estimates that 27.6 million people worldwide are trapped in forced labor, many contributing to the healthcare supply chain.

Despite these issues, procurement processes tend to prioritize cost and quality over ethical sourcing, Stoklosa claims. Most organizations do not conduct supply chain audits, and few contracts with suppliers include anti-trafficking clauses. Without accountability measures, exploitative labor practices can persist, undermining healthcare’s core values. Strategies to mitigate these risks include supply chain and labor audits; transparent procurement policies requiring vendors to certify ethical labor practices; and training procurement and HR teams on risks.

Stoklosa’s insights mirror those presented in an extensive two-part article from OR Manager, “How perioperative staff can combat human trafficking.” Part one illuminates the scope of the problem and its intersection within perioperative services specifically, including recognizing signs of HT in the OR. Part two dives deeper into identifying and treating victims, reporting the crime, and other aspects of how perioperative leaders can help combat this complex, nuanced form of modern-day slavery.