Regulations on bidding for drugs and medical equipment completed: Minister

Modern equipment is used for treatment at the K Hospital in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Bùi Cương Quyết

HÀ NỘI — Legal regulations on bidding for drugs, supplies and medical equipment have been fully, uniformly and synchronously promulgated, said Minister of Health Đào Hồng Lan.

In a document sent to the Cần Thơ City’s National Assembly (NA) delegation responding their petition, Minister Lan confirmed that the Ministry of Health (MoH) had actively coordinated with ministries to ensure that the legal corridor for bids was now the best it could be for units and localities buying drugs and medical supplies.

All of the regulations were strictly based on the laws, she said.

Earlier, Cần Thơ City voters recommended that the MoH address the recent lack of equipment and medicine for medical examination and treatments under health insurance,

Minister Lan said that to ensure that drugs and medical equipment meet the people’s medical examination and treatment needs, the MoH had developed and issued a number of documents.

The documents included the Resolution No 80/2023/QH15 dated January 9, 2023 allowing eligible drugs to be extended their validity until the end of this year; the Decree No 07/2023/NĐ-CP dated March 3, 2023 on medical equipment management; the Resolution No 30/NQ-CP dated March 4, 2023 on solutions to ensure quantity and quality of drugs and medical equipment; the Circular No 06/2023/TT-BYT dated March 12, 2023 regulating drug bidding at public health facilities; and the Circular No 14/2023/TT-BYT dated June 30, 2023 regulating procedures for establishing prices for bidding equipment at public medical facilities.

Minister Lan added that the MoH had worked with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the NA’s Finance and Budget Committee and other agencies to develop the Law on Bidding, including a chapter regulating bids for drugs and medical equipment.

It also supplements regulations on price negotiation of testing supplies and medical equipment, rare drugs and drugs that need to be purchased in small quantities.

"The supply of basic drugs and medical equipment meets the demand of both medical facilities and the retail market. Drugs and medical equipment shortages only occur locally due to several reasons such as the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts in Europe leading to disruptions in the global supply chain," said Lan.

The minister added that shortage were also due to other reasons such as medical facilities and localities failing to forecast, identify needs, set up planning and implement bidding, as regulated.

Drug shortage mainly occurs in very rare drug groups such as antitoxins and anti-snake venom serum because of undetermined demand which could not be foreseen.

The MoH has coordinated with ministries to speed up the process of appraising and issuing circulation certificates for drugs, medicinal ingredients and medical equipment.

It also developed mechanisms and plans to ensure rare drugs supply and enlisted support from the World Health Organisation for some very rare drugs.

In addition, the MoH strengthened responsibility of medical facilities and localities to proactively seek what they need and to make plans, place orders and bids, to ensure drug and medical equipment supply, which is the most important factor in supply work. — VNS