POPULAR DRUGS MUST BE BID CENTRALLY

Drugs that are commonly used and have large volumes must be subject to centralized national or local bidding and selection of qualified manufacturers, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested.

Chairing a meeting on the draft decree guiding the 2023 Bidding Law on contractor selection, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said that in addition to common drugs, rare drugs, special treatments, and specialties, maximum decentralization should be given to hospitals.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha. Image: Intelligent Recovery.

“Centralized bidding is an effective, necessary, transparent and objective measure for people to have access to new, good, cheap drugs,” he said. The hospital council must determine the configuration, technical requirements, quality, and economic efficiency of drugs, supplies, and medical equipment as a basis for choosing the bidding package price.

To remove difficulties in consulting and bidding appraisal, Mr. Ha proposed clear regulations to mobilize and encourage the participation of legally established organizations. In case there is no consulting or appraisal unit participating, the investor will establish a consulting and appraisal team in bidding.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong said he had asked for opinions from Government members when developing content related to bidding for drugs, equipment and medical supplies. The content requested for comments includes setting the price of the bidding package, procedures for approving the contractor selection plan, and payment of costs for purchasing drugs, chemicals, testing supplies, and medical equipment for the hospital.

Deputy Minister of Health Le Duc Luan said that the specific bidding for procurement of drugs, supplies and medical equipment must meet both professional and technical requirements, treatment needs and financial capacity. The Ministry of Health recommends that in case there are two or more quotations, the highest price can be selected as the basis for estimating the price of the bidding package.

Associate Professor Nguyen Hoang Bac, Director of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, stated that in the case of purchasing equipment and technology to deploy new techniques that are not yet available in Vietnam, there is no basis to establish bidding package price, so a special mechanism is needed.

Leaders of Central Military Hospital 108, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, K hospital proposed maximum decentralization for medical facilities to directly bid for drugs to treat unexpected cases, rare drugs, and consumable supplies. Necessary equipment appropriate to capacity and treatment requirements. Oriental medicine, radioactive drugs, and consumable medical supplies need to be added to the bidding list; Expand the types of drugs and medical supplies subject to price negotiation and centralized bidding.

Drug shortages have occurred at many hospitals nationwide since mid-2022. Many medical facilities cannot buy machinery, chemicals, and drugs, affecting patient treatment. To solve the problem, the Government and the Ministry of Health have issued many regulations to solve the problem. However, according to experts, machinery, supplies, and medicine are the “weapons” of doctors. Therefore, in the future, procurement needs to have specific regulations for specific occupations.

According to the procurement methods of other countries, for items that affect social security, bidding is concentrated at the national level.

Source: Tuoi Tre News

About STELLAPHARM

Stellapharm is one of leading generics pharmaceutical companies and strong producer of anti-viral drugs in Vietnam. The company established in Vietnam in 2000; and focuses on both prescription drugs and non-prescription especially in cardiovascular diseases, antiviral drugs, anti-diabetics drugs, etc. and our products are now used by millions of patients in more than 50 countries worldwide.

The company is globally recognized for its quality through our facilities have been audited and approved by stringent authority like EMA, PMDA, Taiwan GMP, local WHO and others.

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