Biennial Health Conference 2011 - Ministry of Health

Report of the 1st Biennial Health Conference 7-9 November 2011
STREAMLINING DRUG PROCUREMENT AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES –
Mr. Tandin, Acting CPO, DVED
Acting CPO, Drugs Vaccines and Equipment Division (DVED) outlined some of
the major challenges that DVED is currently undergoing with the recent procurement
flaws. He stated that their roles and responsibilities have been restructured
in a view to strengthen the organizational tasks. Routine investigations by the
ACC have been stated as major hindrance in normal functioning of the division
with an interim Head. The overview of Procurement processes was detailed out
to the forum. He informed the forum for the importance of institutionalizing field
monitoring and supervisions on medical supplies.
The forum deliberated on strengthening coordination between Essential Drug
Programme (EDP) and DVED in assuring proper check and balances on the procurement
of medical items. It was also informed of need to review and reinforce
training needs for Health Assistants on the supply chain management and quantification
management for DHOs.
It has also been pointed out on the need to revisit and reinforce DHOs decisions
on prudent quantification of drugs and non-drugs requirements.
The forum raised that the Essential Drug Programme has failed to deliver
its mandates due to the inability to retain personnel trained on EDP. The
forum also raised that a training component on supply chain management
should be incorporated in the HA’s curriculum of RIHS. It was informed
that a Health Assistant and a nurse will be trained on store management
from each BHU and refresher course will be conducted for the trained ones.
The forum proposed that the distribution of the traditional medicine will be
soon mainstreamed into the DVED’s general distribution system.
The conference, recognized the importance of judicious use of drugs and nondrugs
to save cost and avoid wastage, and thus recommended the following:
a. The internal mobilization of drugs and non-drugs items to be sustained
and practiced;
b. The supply chain management and quantification trainings to be conducted for
new HAs;
c. Explore possibility of providing name, specifications and use of equipments with
pictures for appropriate indenting;
d. Indenting formula to be made uniform by DVED;
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