A Treaty signed by seven Governments formally established the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in 1981. The OECS promotes co-operation, unity and solidarity among the Member States; assists them in the realization of their obligations and responsibilities to the international community; and seeks the fullest possible harmonization of foreign policy and the promotion of economic integration among the Member States. It is governed by The Authority which comprises heads of the governments of its member states, namely: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines; the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla are Associate members. A Director-General heads the Central Secretariat that is located in St. Lucia.
Within the OECS the governing Authority established the OECS/Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (OECS/PPS) as an agency of OECS. The Managing Director of OECS/PPS acts on behalf of the Director-General respecting regional activities concerning negotiation and monitoring of the supply of drugs, and related items via the Regional Price Contract (RPC) process.
The OECS/PPS itself does not warehouse or re-distribute items of supply. Rather, based on collated country forecasts, OECS/PPS invites tenders and, through a representative committee process, awards Regional Price Contracts. OECS/PPS and its contracted suppliers will, for the term of contract, be the SOLE SOURCE OF SUPPLY for the participating countries for each item on the tender. Subsequent to the award of contracts, OECS/PPS submits Purchase Orders on behalf of participating countries to contracted suppliers during the contract period.
Each participating government has established a special reserve drug account with the ECCB for purchases under OECS/PPS contracts; this amount is left on deposit at ECCB. Within sixty (60) days of receipt of goods, the supplier's invoice is paid directly by the ECCB from the purchasing country's drug account; the ECCB then obtains new deposits from the country to replenish the drug account. Only orders that have been processed and verified by OECS/PPS are eligible for payment by ECCB.
OECS/Pharmaceutical Procurement Service,
P O Box 3093,
The Morne,
Castries,
ST LUCIA, W.I.
Tel: 1-758-452-5895/5058
Fax: 1-758-453-1628
Email: pps@candw.lc |
