Pharmaceuticals procurement under public private partnership

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals procurement represents the largest health expenditure and consumes major share of organization's resources because they are needed for health service provision. This calls for Public Private Partnership (PPP) for enhancing efficient health service provision. This study was intended to investigate procurement of pharmaceuticals under PPP by using experiences of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC). The study objectives were to; exploring procedures involved in pharmaceuticals procurement under PPP, assess the Public Procurement Act (PPA) No. 7 of 2011 compliance under PPP and identify challenges faced in pharmaceuticals procurement process. Case study research design was adopted with the sample of 30 respondents who were purposively selected. Findings revealed that, at KCMC, the procurement of pharmaceuticals under PPP follows the usual procurement procedures as stipulated in PPA No 7 of 2011. The challenges of pharmaceuticals procurement under PPP are inadequate source of supplier, inconvenience of the regulatory framework regarding pharmaceuticals procurement, insufficient funds, poor quality of pharmaceuticals, unavailability of essential medicines, prices fluctuation of pharmaceuticals, delay in permit and registration for pharmaceutical procurement, instability of procurement plan due to changes in technology and unclear specifications. This study recommends for formation of specific laws, policies and regulations for pharmaceuticals procurement under PPP, ensuring funds availability, and assurance of essential medicines availability.