Transparency and Accountability in Public Procurement of Essential Medicines in Developing Countries

2012 ◽  
pp. 1437-1452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Kotwani
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Essential Medicine ◽  
Access To Medicines ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
International Agencies ◽  
High Level ◽  
Procurement System

Pharmaceuticals are an integral component of a health care system; any weakness in governance of the pharmaceutical system negatively impacts health outcomes, especially in developing countries. It is believed that procurement on the concept of essential medicine list and transparency leads to improved efficiency and access to medicines, as has been described for the Delhi model. However, transparency is only the first step; accountability and sustainability are also needed. Information systems create opportunities for transparency and openness through the disclosure of information and improve decision-making and efficiency along the medicine supply chain. With the lessons learned from experiences of many developing countries, technical guidance and tools developed by international agencies, a transparent, accountable, sustainable public procurement system is possible but high-level political commitment is needed to mandate and enforce the system.

Transparency and Accountability in Public Procurement of Essential Medicines in Developing Countries

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 15-30
Author(s):  
Anita Kotwani
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Essential Medicine ◽  
Access To Medicines ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
International Agencies ◽  
High Level ◽  
Procurement System

Pharmaceuticals are an integral component of a health care system; any weakness in governance of the pharmaceutical system negatively impacts health outcomes, especially in developing countries. It is believed that procurement on the concept of essential medicine list and transparency leads to improved efficiency and access to medicines, as has been described for the Delhi model. However, transparency is only the first step; accountability and sustainability are also needed. Information systems create opportunities for transparency and openness through the disclosure of information and improve decision-making and efficiency along the medicine supply chain. With the lessons learned from experiences of many developing countries, technical guidance and tools developed by international agencies, a transparent, accountable, sustainable public procurement system is possible but high-level political commitment is needed to mandate and enforce the system.

Researching the public procurement system: An analysis of winning organizations

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 860-884
Author(s):  
V.G. Kogdenko ◽  
A.A. Sanzharov
Keyword(s):  
Public Procurement ◽  
The Public ◽  
Debt Capital ◽  
Scientific Principles ◽  
General Scientific ◽  
Marketing Information ◽  
High Level ◽  
Return On Sales ◽  
Procurement System ◽  
Social Components

Subject. The article deals with the analysis of suppliers in the public procurement system based on reasonable prequalification parameters. Objectives. The aim is to test the hypothesis about strong reputation characteristics of the winners in the public procurement system and develop a methodology for assessing the reputation of suppliers for prequalification purposes. Methods. We employ general scientific principles and methods of research, like abstraction, generalization of approaches used by domestic and foreign authors for prequalification and assessment of reputation of public procurement participants. Results. To test the hypothesis, we calculated four groups of indicators on corporate, financial, market, and social components of reputation. The methodology was tested on the data obtained from SPARK-Interfax and SPARK-Marketing information resources. Conclusions. The study revealed that not all reputational characteristics of public procurement winners can be regarded as high level. In terms of the corporate component, it is the low level of share capital, indicating the mistrust on the part of owners and their reluctance to invest in the business, and the low percentage of non-current assets. In terms of the market component, it is a low sales growth rate, as well as low return on sales. As to the financial component, it is a low capitalization of winners, low share of long-term debt capital and low credit limit. With respect to the social component, it is a below-average tax burden.

scholarly journals Drug shops for stronger health systems: learning from initiatives in six LMICs

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geetanjali Lamba ◽  
Zubin Cyrus Shroff ◽  
Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar ◽  
Abdul Ghaffar
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Access To Medicines ◽  
Health System Strengthening ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Drug Shops ◽  
Client Pressure ◽  
High Level

Abstract Background Private sector retail pharmacies, or drug shops, play an important role in access to essential medicines and services in low-and-middle-income countries. Recognising that they have the potential to contribute to health system strengthening efforts, many recent initiatives to engage with drug shops have been launched. These include initiatives that focus on changes in policy, regulation and training. However, the specific factors that influence their success remain poorly understood. Seven country case studies supported under the Alliance’s programme of work ‘Strengthening health systems: the role of drug shops’ help to explore this issue. Methods Country case studies from the above programme of research from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia were used as the main sources of data for this paper. A modified version of Bigdeli et al.’s Access to Medicines framework was applied within a partially grounded approach to analyze each country case study and compare themes between countries. Results Many factors may help initiatives targeting drug shops successfully achieve their intended outcomes. At the micro level, these include community demand for drug shops and a positive relationship between drug shops and their clients. At the meso level, facilitators of initiative success include training and positive attitudes from drug shops towards the initiative. Barriers include client pressure, procurement challenges and financial and administrative costs associated with initiatives. At the macro level, collaboration between stakeholders, high-level buy in and supervision, monitoring and regulation may influence initiative success. These factors are inter-dependent and interact with each other in a dynamic way. Conclusions Using a framework approach, these country case studies demonstrate common factors that influence how drug shops can strengthen health systems. These learnings can help inform the design and implementation of successful strategies to engage drug shops towards sustainable systems change.

E-government and transformation of service delivery in developing countries

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 368-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noore Alam Siddiquee
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Intimate Knowledge ◽  
Secondary Information ◽  
High Level

Purpose Since 2009, e-government has been high on governmental agenda in Bangladesh. Seen as a vehicle for improving governance and service delivery, it is also presented as a key to fighting poverty and achieving the millennium development goals. Thus, the goals of e-government remain broad and ambitious. Can a developing country such as Bangladesh realize its e-government vision? The purpose of this paper is to explore this and other related questions seeking to draw lessons that the Bangladesh experience may offer. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws primarily on secondary information, complemented by primary data gathered from various sources. In addition to an extensive review of secondary sources, necessary information was derived from websites of relevant government departments/agencies and through interviews and conversations with selected government officials having intimate knowledge on e-government projects at the field and local levels. Findings The paper demonstrates the ways in which various e-initiatives have transformed traditional administrative systems and practices, notwithstanding the nation’s limited overall e-development. It also shows how e-innovations have helped tackle some complex challenges, thereby adding to convenience and benefits to service users. A major conclusion of the paper is that although e-government is yet to make a breakthrough in governance and service delivery, it has set the wheels of change in motion. Practical implications E-government must be seen as a long term project, it must attract high-level political support and it requires fruitful collaboration between the public, private and non-governmental actors. Originality/value This paper adds to the limited knowledge in the field. Lessons learned from the Bangladesh experience have much relevance to other developing countries with similar socioeconomic circumstances. The policymakers and practitioners are expected to benefit from the insights of the paper.

Challenges in Chilean E-Procurement System

2017 ◽  
pp. 170-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Burr Ortuzar ◽  
Elena Mora Sevillano ◽  
Claudio Loyola Castro ◽  
Catalina Uribe
Keyword(s):  
Public Procurement ◽  
National Development ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Market Regulation ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
The Public ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Market Needs ◽  
Modernization Process ◽  
Procurement System

ChileCompra (CC) is the procurement authority of Chile. Purchases are made independently by the public entities, but CC is responsible for market regulation and management of the electronic platform, where transactions are made. ChileCompra was launched on 2003, within a deep State modernization process which started by the end of the 90s. ChileCompra was born with the mission of generating a substantial change in public procurement, as the previous system was neither responding to market needs nor to the accountability which citizens demanded. The objective was the creation of a transparent, efficient, and – most of all - accessible system, which would create equal business opportunities to companies of all sizes, especially for micro and small ones. ChileCompra manages the public procurement market, facilitating the acquisition of goods and services for public authorities; with high levels of transparency and equal opportunities for every enterprise, especially the smallest ones. Through the electronic platform www.mercadopublico.cl – which is the biggest electronic marketplace in the country – public organizations are connected to suppliers within a transparent and efficient system based on a solid regulatory framework whose governing principles are universality, accessibility, and non-discrimination. ChileCompra is currently a strong system, with high levels of transparency and efficiency. As other public procurement national systems, ChileCompra is now facing second generation challenges, like the strengthening of the public procurement role in the socio economic national development. This chapter focuses on the evolution of the Chilean public procurement system, lessons learned and challenges, and the conditions to make it a complete electronic procurement process.

Electronic Procurement (E-Procurement) Implementation in Municipalities

2013 ◽  
pp. 220-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rugayah Hashim ◽  
Mohd Anuar Mazuki
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
The State ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Electronic Procurement ◽  
Project Failures ◽  
Procurement System ◽  
Government Level

Local authorities or municipalities have different organizational structure and goals and as such implementing a customized information systems project requires a separate evaluation that would fit their needs. In the case of an electronic procurement (e-procurement) system, the implementation of this project at the central government level is not without challenges. Similarly, at the local government level, issues prevailed. Thus, this chapter highlights the issues encountered by twelve local authorities in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. The issues are broken down into four themes, namely, political, economic, social, and technological. It is important to note that local authorities fall within the jurisdiction of the state government; thus, more issues are abound particularly with regards to political interference. Nonetheless, the ultimate goal of having an online public procurement system is a win-win situation for both the local authority concerned and the vendors or suppliers. Hence, identifying the issues and learning from them will limit project failures or extended scheduling. Inherently, the implications of lessons learned from others who have implemented an online public procurement system will provide valuable guidelines for other lagging municipalities, yet at the same time, the late implementers will benefit more as they are able to avoid the pitfalls made by their counterparts that embarked earlier. In fact, the late-comers tend to achieve better success rate and report a significant return of investment.

scholarly journals Contemporary challenges on access to medicines: beyond the UNSG High-Level Panel

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 2435-2439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Bermudez
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Current System ◽  
Access To Medicines ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Secretary General ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
The World ◽  
High Level

Abstract Within the context of the recently released United Nations Secretary-General´s Report of the High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines, the author reviews issues related to the context and discussions on access to medicines and the conflict between trade and health during the last decades. These issues have been relevant and outstanding in Global Health, especially questioning the current system of innovation, R&D and IP protection. Lessons learned from the HLP Report are highlighted and the need to further discuss and implement concrete actions, as the world has moved from the MDGs to the SDGs, demand strong actions derived from the United Nations and a strong interaction with other key stakeholders. Affordability and unaffordability of new technologies are discussed, making clear that we need to implement bold actions in order to ensure access to medicines as a human right.

Right Idea, Wrong Result—Canada's Access to Medicines Regime

2008 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paige E. Goodwin
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Essential Medicine ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Access To Medicines ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Brand Name ◽  
Middle Income

In 2007, an estimated 33.2 million people were living with HIV, 2.5 million had become infected, and 2.1 million died from the virus. The majority of infected individuals reside in Africa, where in some countries as many as 33.4% of adults have HIV. In developed countries, effective drug therapies have reduced AIDS-related deaths by over seventy percent each year. These drugs have been so effective that over the last two years the global number of individuals dying from AIDS-related illness has actually declined. These therapies, however, are currently sold for $10,000 USD a year, a purchase price that is not feasible for low income countries where the annual health expenditure may be only $29 per person. A lack of essential medicine is not only a problem for those suffering from AIDS. Low and middle-income countries are disproportionately burdened by many additional chronic and infectious illnesses. The World Health Organization (“WHO”) estimates that one third of the world's population cannot regularly access essential medicines. The WHO cites the high cost of drugs as one of the major hurdles countries face in obtaining access to medication. However, the high cost of these brand-name medications does not reflect their minimal production costs. Drug manufacturers can produce generic versions of these drugs for as little as 1/30th of the cost of their brand-name counterparts.

scholarly journals Lessons Learned, Barriers, and Improvement Factors for Mega Building Construction Projects in Developing Countries: Review Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10678
Author(s):  
Yazan Issa Abu Aisheh
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
State Budget ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Indirect Impacts ◽  
High Level

A mega-project is a major project or a group of projects of significant cost that attract a high level of public attention or political interest because of substantial direct and indirect impacts on the community, environment, and state budget. Capturing and sharing the knowledge from the performance of the current mega projects is essential in order to avoid losing vital corporate knowledge assets in the construction industry. The learned lessons are gained from experience, success, and failure for improving future performance. This research aims to review and read out the lessons learned from 77 research papers that have dealt with the barriers that hinder the successful performance of mega building construction projects in developing countries, identify and classify the main obstacles, and propose improvements for successful implementation and management of mega building construction projects. The results of this paper will help project owners, construction companies, and other stakeholders in developing countries to overcome the limitations in the execution of mega building construction projects.

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