Concerns in Pharmaceutical Procurement Quality, Urgent Reforms Needed

Key stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector are calling for urgent reforms to the current system of drug procurement, citing a lack of transparency and a decline in the quality of medicines available on the market. Siddique Khodabocus, president of the Association of Small and Medium-sized Pharmaceutical Importers, emphasized that the current procurement process is flawed due to its opaqueness, hindering a fair and clear procedure.

Since his recent appointment, the new Minister of Health, Anil Bachoo, is aiming to bring order to the procurement of pharmaceutical products.

His goal is to prevent the malpractices observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the abrupt spike in medication prices and the acquisition of equipment that did not meet required specifications.

This initiative has been welcomed by various stakeholders, who are advocating for reforms to eliminate such fraudulent activities.

Khodabocus insisted that the bidding process for drug procurement must be reevaluated.

He pointed out that currently, only the name of the bidder is published without any information about the laboratory providing the products.

This lack of transparency made it challenging to assess the reputation of the laboratory and the quality of the medications it produces.

He also highlighted that allowing international bidders to submit offers directly can lead to questionable practices, as documents can be easily falsified.

This underscored the need for an independent laboratory dedicated to verifying the quality of medications.

“Many countries compile lists of pre-qualified vendors after conducting proper checks,” Khodabocus explained.

He added that pharmaceuticals should also be registered to ensure that participation in bidding is restricted to qualified entities.

He cited Madagascar as an example where products must be pre-qualified to be considered for bidding.

Khodabocus expressed concern over the current lack of oversight that permitted jewelers and hardware store owners to import pharmaceuticals during the pandemic, despite lacking the necessary qualifications.

He advocated that only wholesalers registered with the Ministry of Health should be eligible to participate in bidding processes.

A pharmacist with extensive experience in drug procurement concurred, noting that while there may not be clear-cut corruption in the current procurement system, the selection criteria and conditions for pharmaceutical products, particularly medicines, need revision.

He observed a deterioration in the quality of medications over the past five years, voicing particular alarm regarding cancer drugs and those for treating cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and hypertension.

He stressed the importance of using only patented medicines for chronic diseases to ensure effective treatment, as these conditions directly depend on the quality of the medications utilized.

With approximately 20% of the population suffering from hypertension and 20-25% from diabetes, representing a significant number of Mauritians who require high-quality medications. Thus, there should be no compromises in this area.

Khodabocus also warned against basing procurement solely on the lowest bidder.

He stressesd the necessity of verifying that products containing the exact amount of active ingredients stated on their labels, as some products may contain inadequate amounts merely to cut costs.

“Our evaluations are based only on the documents provided. This explains why some medications do not have the expected effects,” he stated, questioning whether this could be why some patients struggle to manage their conditions effectively.

He argued that simply providing free medications is insufficient; understanding why many patients prefer private pharmacies over the public healthcare system is crucial.

He called for the establishment of new standards to ensure transparency in the procurement process and to create safeguards against the entry of questionable products into the Mauritian market.

Khodabocus emphasized that procurement should not rely solely on digital systems but should also include sealed bids that can be checked for veracity in case of disputes.

As Minister Bachoo sought to ensure that corruption does not taint the procurement process, Khodabocus noted the need for a thorough review of the bidding criteria and beneficiary assessments.

He advocated for the introduction of new standards, both for the quality of medications and to prevent irregularities in the procurement process, indicating that there are sometimes manipulations that favor one company over another.

In conclusion, Khodabocus called for the creation of a “white paper” on pharmaceutical procurement.

A pharmacist, who requested anonymity, criticized the outdated methods currently employed for drug procurement, claiming are more than a decade old.

He urged for a systematic analysis of imported medicines distributed in the public service to adapt to changing needs.

While a pharmacovigilance system is in place, he believed more needs to be done to encourage healthcare professionals and patients to report adverse effects.

With a decline in medication quality, he asserted that reforming the Pharmacy Board’s operations is essential.

He also insisted that the National Medical and Healthcare Product Regulatory Authority should be established, which he viewsedas a crucial step that could enhance Mauritius’s competitiveness within the African market.

Such alignment with continental regulations would facilitate the international marketing of Mauritian pharmaceuticals.

Ashwin Dookun, president of the Pharmaceutical Association of Mauritius (PAM), calls for an investigation into procurement practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly concerning emergency procurement processes.

He insisted that those responsible for approving these procurement contracts should be held accountable.

“When urgent medication is needed, we must rely on experienced professionals to obtain them swiftly and in line with quality requirements. Contracts should not be awarded to individuals with no expertise in procurement,” he affirmed.

Source: Defi Media