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Explore the reasons behind the delays in Voluntary Pooled Procurement (VPP) for medicines, highlighting the complexities and shortcomings from a country perspective. Discover recommendations to streamline processes, strengthen pharmaceutical systems, and improve VPP efficiency.
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Voluntary Pooled Procurement: Country Perspective XIX International AIDS ConferenceJuly 22, 2012 Dr. El Hadj Sidi Dah PSM Technical Officer Grant Management Solutions
Why VPP? • Low capacity of the PR to procure and supply medicines and health products in a transparent and timely manner; • Risk of misuse of funds intended for the supply of medicines and related products; • Global Fund’s Additional Safeguards Policy in place • Investigation by Global Fund’s OIG
What Do Countries Think of VPP? • Complicated, not voluntary, not pooled, and more expensive than expected • Lead time > 10 months • Concurrent capacity building not always provided • Unclear who is the process leader among the Global Fund, procurement agents, and PRs
Regular Supply Process Best-Case Scenario (in months) First results Q4 6 months
Supply Process through VPP Sometimes more than 10 months Results in Q1 Year 2
Why Does VPP Take So Long? PRs may find these areas challenging: • Quantification • Developing technical specifications • Validating PSM plans and resolving CPs • Understanding how VPP works • Communication (language) • Lack of motivation (frustration) (continued)
Why Does VPP Take So Long? • Many actors: PSS, PSA, PR, SR, suppliers, carriers, distributors… • Inherent design of the process • Lack of commitmentof all actors on the ground (pharmacists, warehousing personnel, registration, tax authorities, PSM units, SRs) • Lack of fitting procedures for VPP (continued)
Why Does VPP Take So Long? • Weaknesses in the country’s pharmaceutical system (regulations, registration procedures, tax exemption procedures…) • Storage and distribution challenges (norms and capacity) • Delays in distribution planning for products before they are received
Recommendations • Simplify processes • Strengthen pharmaceutical systems • Develop capacities • Plan receiving and distribution of products • Continually assess how VPP works at country level and of how it can be improved