– study finds

THE Ministry of Public Health’s procurement system is currently at level 2 of a 5-tier system, according to a 12-day study conducted by a team of USAID specialists.
Martin Ellis, a consultant who formed part of the USAID team, said the ministry’s procurement system is currently at the Bronze level on the 5-tier system – Canvas, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Accredited.

Fielding questions from reporters during a press conference at the Public Health Ministry’s Brickdam Office on Monday, Ellis said that Level 2 is satisfactory. “Bronze is good. You should applaud yourself now that you have gotten to that level,” he said while noting that the personnel involved in the procurement process in the public health sector are passionate about what they do. “They want to do a fantastic job but the only thing that is holding them back, is that they need the technology and the training,” the USAID consultant said.

He explained that during the conduct of the 12-day study last December, the Public Health Sector’s supply chain was thoroughly examined in three dimensions – organisaiton; process and policy; technology and infrastructure. Ellis said with the right financial support, the Public Health Ministry, together with USAID, can work to raise the ministry’s level to silver.

The Public Health Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Colette Adams, told reporters that attaining the Bronze supply chain maturity level is an important achievement. “This level signals that the supply chain improvement journey is under way. To achieve Bronze, the country has trained staff, implemented processes and has some level of functional technology. This is to be applauded, as the most difficult step to make is the first, from Canvas to Bronze,” the Permanent Secretary said.

Adams linked the progress to the move by Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence to set up a new Procurement Department. “With the establishment of the new Procurement Department in July 2017, the Public Health Minister set about tackling the myriad and daunting challenges that were being faced. It deliberately broadened the procurement to pursue Open Tendering; Restrictive Tendering; Single Sourcing; Request for Quotations; and Request for Proposal except for Community Participation,” she explained.

According to her, the existing procurement process is much fairer, more competitive and unquestionably more transparent.

“Our scrutiny of contracts has become more rigorous too to ensure contractors and suppliers abide by the terms of the agreements brokered. The system is also ably supported by a Contract Consultant and a Drug Inspector. These measures help improve accountability and move the Ministry much closer to guaranteeing it gets value for its money from its suppliers and by ensuring we get both the quantity of items ordered, and the quality we have paid for,” she told reporters.

The Supply Chain Maturity Model generated a portfolio of 53 improvement activities which are required to attain the next level. However, each country has its own and sometimes, individual and unique challenges which also require attention, the officials explained.

Adams said the ministry will now direct its attention to improving the skill set of its procurement staff by providing additional training using USAID experts. These training sessions will cover a number of key areas including drafting of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and implementing a Procurement Tracking System software. Added to that, steps will be taken to improve synergies between the Procurement and the Materials Management Unit (MMU) to improve the collection and distribution cycles of drugs, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in the quest to help improve the lives of persons living in Guyana.

Adams emphasised that providing quality and timely health care to all the people living in Guyana forms a major part of the ministry’s mandate.

“This renewed focus on accountability, transparency, and fostering collaboration is required to ensure long-term systems sustainability and with assistance from our partners and stakeholders such as USAID, PAHO/WHO and Global Fund we are continuing to strengthen coordination and collaboration and to promote strong governance, transparency and accountability in the supply chain,” she said.

Noting that the Public Health Ministry is well-positioned to lift from the Bronze level to Silver, the Permanent Secretary assured that critical steps will be taken to implement a systematic and structured improvement programme. “Silver builds on this with further advanced staff qualifications, introduction of Standard Operating Procedures and improved technology,” she said.

Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence; Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings; Contractor for USAID Global Health Supply Chain Programme, Caroline Healey, were among the officials present during the press conference.