Assessment of Pharmaceuticals Tender Management: A Case Study at Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency
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Date
2020-05
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Assessment of Pharmaceuticals Tender Management: A Case Study at Ethiopian
Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency
Diriba Yadesa
Addis Ababa University, 2020
Background:
Tendering is one of the crucial steps in any type of procurement and requires proper
handling so as to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the procurement. Tendering
increases competitiveness and it is also a mechanism to get the right price to the medicine to
ensure access, but bad practices may adversely affect the process.
Objective:
To assess pharmaceuticals tender management at Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply
Agency (EPSA) was the main objective of this particular study. This assessment included the
processes being used in pharmaceuticals tendering, comparing pharmaceuticals tender
management process of the agency with the Federal Public Procurement Directive of
Ethiopia, and identifying major challenges in pharmaceuticals tender management.
Methodology:
The study was designed as a Case Study, to assess the pharmaceuticals tender management
at central EPSA. Interviews, document reviews, questionnaire, and observations were used
for data collection at Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies Tender Management
Directorate. A purposive sampling technique was used to gain rich information on the
subject matter. All ethical issues were addressed without compromise throughout and even
after completion of the study.
Results:
EPSA adheres to the Federal Public Procurement Directives of Ethiopia in most cases, yet
some deviations were found regarding domestic preferences, thresholds for methods of
procurement, and procurement planning. Manual tendering process, too much bureaucracy
and uneconomical procurement requests were found to be the major challenges.
Conclusion:
Although EPSA adheres to the Federal Public Procurement Directive of Ethiopia mostly, the
study showed that there were certain areas that need to be improved like annual
procurement plan preparation. There were also gaps in the awareness of staffs about Public
Procurement Directives, availability of trainings to build the capacity of the staffs. Lack of
conducive working environment was another area identified by the researcher the Agency
should work on to improve.
Description
Keywords
EPSA, Pharmaceuticals, Procurement, Tendering