The Gambia’s Health Minister addressed delays in drug supply due to slow procurement processes at GPPA, highlighting the lengthy steps involved and issues with supplier reliability. The entire procurement process can take up to six months, severely impacting the availability of necessary medical supplies.
The Gambian Health Minister addressed issues causing delays in the supply of medications to health facilities across the country. He highlighted the slow procurement processes managed by the Gambia Public Procurement Agency (GPPA), which, while aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability, introduces multiple challenges in timely drug acquisition.
Minister Samateh detailed the intricate steps involved in the procurement process, including quantification, document preparation, approval, advertisement, and contract signing. Each step can take considerable time, often extending up to six months, thereby impacting the availability of necessary medications.
He explained that if procurement begins in 2024 for 2025 supplies, the lag in budget allocations means payments are often delayed until January 2025, further postponing the delivery of the drugs. Even if drugs are confirmed to be available within 90 days post-payment, inefficiencies lead to significant delays in the healthcare supply chain.
The minister further pointed out the unreliable nature of supplies, with various international suppliers participating in tenders. While Gambian suppliers have won significant portions of contracts, their failure to deliver effectively exacerbates the situation.
Minister Samateh emphasized that adequate availability of drugs and medical consumables is essential for a successful health system. Unique to Gambia is that 100% of medicinal supplies are imported, creating dependency on external sources for healthcare needs.
The slow importation of medical supplies in The Gambia is a concern for the national health system. With the GPPA overseeing procurement, the complexity of processes affects the timely delivery of essential medications. Given that all drugs in Gambia’s hospitals are imported, improving procurement efficiency is crucial to enhancing health outcomes.
The Gambia faces significant challenges in drug procurement due to slow processes and unreliable suppliers. Minister Samateh’s insights underline the need for better efficiency and reliability in the health sector’s supply chain to ensure timely access to medications, crucial for public health.
Original Source: thepoint.gm
