OECS Secretariat, Castries St. Lucia August 31st, 2009: The OECS Secretariat states that the high quality of its service has increased consumer confidence in its pooled purchasing of medicines for Member States. Head of the OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Service, Francis Burnett believes the relationship between the OECS PPS and key regional stakeholders in the health sector has influenced an expanding list of medications and growing number of consumers: 

“It shows that the OECS citizens have confidence in the public sector supply of medicines. Our survey reveals that ninety-two percent of medicines prescribed by physicians in the public sector were dispensed. So there is increasing confidence in the public supply system.. It also shows governments’ confidence in the regional pooled procurement system. The OECS PPS is the second largest user of the Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory among Caribbean governments and medicines tested are part of our post marketing surveillance programme. Quality is a key aspect of procurement. We have been able to implement a comprehensive quality assurance programme. Patients are confident that the medicines are affordable and of reputable quality, meeting international standards.”

The portfolio of medicines and medical products is currently seven hundred. Burnett notes that there has been an unprecedented expansion in the list of medicines purchased for people of the OECS. He opines that enhanced consumer confidence in the product and the credibility of the OECS PPS’ are among positive indicators observed through the expansion of the list of medicines purchased under the collective arrangement: “We are gratified that purchases for the period under review increased to twenty-one million dollars worth of medicines for OECS Countries, representing the largest increase in purchases for successive years.” 

The issue of consumer confidence in the bulk procurement of pharmaceuticals for OECS Member Countries constitutes a wide-ranging agenda at the 23rd meeting of OECS PPS’ Policy Board in St.Vincent and the Grenadines 10th September 2009. 

During the meeting, OECS governments will be updated on the many benefits gained from the timely reimbursements of their Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) drug accounts towards the bulk purchasing of medicines for the people of the region: “Governments have good intentions but the world-wide economic downturn has adversely impacted upon governments ability to honour their financial obligations consistently. We need to reinforce the significance of timely reimbursement of the accounts. Timely payments will enhance our credit ratings, and attract potential suppliers to the bulk procurement system, and create access to new markets. It will also encourage those suppliers, who declined in the past, to reconsider the option of participating in the bulk purchasing arrangement. So we will be discussing in depth, strategies to encourage governments to reimburse their accounts on time.”

As the OECS PPS reflects on its 2008-2009 financial year, Burnett adds that, the issue of addressing the HINI or “swine flu” virus was among the most major developments. He has projected that the supply of the medication to OECS member countries for treating the HINI influenza will continue. A report on the proposed bulk purchasing of dialysis treatment fluids and a three year strategic plan are among the other issues tabled for the 23rd meeting of the OECS PPS’ Policy Board in Kingstown. The following day, 11th September, OECS Health Ministers will meet over a wide-ranging agenda in St.Vincent and the Grenadines.