These issues are just the tip of the shark's fin in procurement and supply chain management in the public sector in Myanmar. I guess one has to start somewhere.
Jamie
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Health ministry to reduce waste, improve procurement
NYEIN ZAW LIN
Myanmar Times
20 APR 2018
Union Minister for Health and Sports U Myint Htwe vowed to improve procurement of medicine in order to reduce waste and make its services to the people more efficient.
He noted that despite buying in bulk, if medicine is not immediately available, there could be a shortage of medicine in hospitals, and if the quality of medicine is below standard, it could lead to loss of lives.
“The ministry will try its best to ensure timely distribution and access to quality medicine,” he said after senior health officials reviewed processes during a meeting on Wednesday.
At present, 1000 personal computers for medical records and stocks have been distributed to hospitals to monitor medicine stocks and distribution to hospitals, where necessary, before expiration dates.
But application software is still under development while training is necessary, and the minister ordered implementation of the system at the earliest and the expediting of software development.
“If medicine is going to expire in next six months, the software will show an alert. Then it can be arranged to distribute it to the hospitals where necessary before the expiry date. It will dramatically reduce waste,” U Myint Htwe said.
Although the supply of medicine cannot be met 100 percent, as procurement will be based on the previous three years of purchases, wastage will be reduced, he said.
During the two years under the new government, the ministry bought K274-billion worth of medicine, according to Health Ministry records.
However, one hospital to which K3 billion was allocated to buy medicine, asked patients who came to get anti-rabies vaccine to buy medicine like Paracetamol and Kimose, the minister said.
More drug stores will be opened at hospitals which have 200 beds or more to ensure more access to quality medicine at fair prices, U Myint Htwe said.
Dr Myat Wanna Soe, regional director of the Department of Medical Services in Nay Pyi Taw told The Myanmar Times that the Union minister instructed him to do a detailed review of purchases, storage, and distribution of medicine at each hospital.
“The minister told us that one meeting is not enough to review each hospital’s policy for medicine,” he said. “What we will do depends on the result. Currently, each hospital under the ministry reviews their own processes.”
At present there are two ways to distribute and purchase medicine for hospitals.
The first process involves asking the hospital from different regions and states for a list of essential medicines they need. After that, the Department of Medical Services submits their requirements to the Myanmar Pharmaceutical Industry under the Ministry of Industry, which will deliver the medicine to the hospitals.
The second process is for those hospitals with 200 beds or more to be given a specific budget to purchase medicine depending on their estimated number of patients and their needs every six months. For township or district hospitals, the budget is given to their respective region or state.
U Myat Wanna Soe said, “We hope the distribution or purchase system will be made more systematic, and we hope to provide better service to the public.”
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/health-ministry-reduce-waste-improve-procurement.html
