Lessons for other Countries

The experience of the OECS/PPS, after 15 years of successful centralized tendering for pharmaceuticals and related medical supplies, has demonstrated that improved procurement can reduce costs and enhance the efficiency of health service delivery.  Following a WHO -sponsored workshop in the Fiji Islands in April 2001, these seven islands in the pacific have developed a three-year action plan to pursue the pooled procurement of pharmaceuticals along the OECS/PPS model. 

Against the background of severe difficulties which are confronting the global economy and the subsequent negative impact on developing countries, other countries should explore all strategies for efficiently utilizing their scarce health sector resources.  Better procurement methods have been shown to produce significant cost-savings.