Parlt adopts PAC report on procurement, distribution of supplies

PARLIAMENT has adopted the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) report on the procurement, supply and distribution of medicines and its recommendations,” an official says.
Clerk of Parliament Kala Aufa told The National that Parliament had done its part in accepting the report.
He said Speaker Job Pomat had written to Prime Minister James Marape on the resolution of Parliament.
“The next steps after that, Parliament has no role,” Aufa said.
The PAC in its report recommended for the establishment of a National Pharmaceutical Authority (NPA) to be responsible for the procurement and oversight of the supply and distribution of medicines and medical equipment in the country.
The authority would be responsible for the entire medical supply chain from procurement of medical drugs and equipment to oversight of testing, packaging and distribution of medicines throughout PNG. PAC had also recommended that the NPA be a Government authority created to manage the medicine supply, procurement and distribution for PNG.
Its mission would be to provide quality medicines, medical supplies and medical equipment at the most affordable rate for the PNG market and provide an end-to-end service for pharmaceuticals in PNG.
It was recommended that a board be established to govern the authority consisting of various stakeholders such as non-government organisations, church health services, donor agencies and representatives from the doctors and nurses’ associations.