Dept to seek overseas bidders

THE Health Department Health will look at outsourcing and bidding by overseas companies to address challenges in procuring, supplying and distributing medicines, Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Elias Kapavore, pictured, says.
He said they were seeking views from development partners and assessment and recommendation on ongoing medical issues. Kapavore made the statement in Parliament yesterday in presenting his maiden speech as the health minister.
“Medical supplies, procurement and distribution have been and continues to be one of the Government’s biggest challenges,” he said.
“A number of initiatives have been implemented to strengthen procurement, distribution and management.
“This includes the establishment of a pull system, the upgrading of the four area medical stores, the establishment of the 22 transit medical stores and the establishment of the drug testing facility in Gordon supported by WHO (Wortld Health Organisation) and the US Centre for Disease Control.” Kapavore said K250 million had been allocated for medical supplies this year.
He said the funds were used to fund medicine tenders and orders had been processed and distributed nationwide.
“The department is also undertaking major medical supply reforms supported by the Asian Development Bank to ensure sufficient, affordable and sustainable levels of medical supplies are readily available in all health centres,” he said.
Kapavore assured Parliament that all drugs supplied through the medical stores had been certified by WHO.