WINDHOEK– HIV-positive patients will soon start taking fixed-dose combination anti-retroviral (ARV) medication, which involves one tablet instead of three to five pills a day, reducing the risk of patients defaulting on their treatment.
The change in the prescription comes after the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) awarded a tender worth N$166 million to five companies over two years.
The MOHSS also awarded a tender worth N$250 million to 28 companies for clinical supplies to MOHSS Central Medical Stores.
The tenders were awarded according to the government procurement system as stipulated by the Namibia Tender Board Act for the procurement of MOHSS goods and services.
“As we may be aware, Namibia has a limited capacity and also a very limited market for manufacturing the items for which tenders are being awarded today, therefore more than 90 percent of these products are imported into Namibia trough local suppliers and wholesalers,” said the MOHSS PS, Andrew Ndishishi, at the awarding ceremony of tenders for ARVs and clinical supplies to the Central Medical Stores yesterday.
He said the supply chain for medicine is very long, adding, “In fact it often spans the globe.”
He said the proper and efficient management of the health commodity supply chain, both upstream and downstream, from Central Medical Stores is absolutely critical.
“Only through good planning, management and close monitoring can we ensure the availability of these essential and lifesaving commodities to those who need them most,” stated the health permanent secretary.
He said it is the government’s expectation that the private sector should also make their contribution to the development and management of pharmaceutical and clinical supplies in the country.
“Government expects the re-investment of the profit in the Namibian economy by value addition and social responsibility in training requisite skills,” stressed Ndishishi. He further said procurement is an important component of supply chain management.
“An effective procurement process ensures the availability of the right product, in this case medicine, at the right quantities, at the right time, for the right patient at a reasonable price and recognised standard of quality,” he said.
Ndishishi said procurement cannot simply be the fact of straight forward buying, it involves a complex set of operations.
“Given the extremely high impact of the various procurement activities on the ongoing operations of our health services, it is important that all the activities are performed well, and by qualified staff with high professional and ethical standards, who apply the relevant policies and regulations,” he said.
Experience has shown that an effective procurement system is one that is transparent, corrupt free, continuously uses best procurement practises, and pays attention to the safety and quality of products.
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa