Ensermu, Matiwos(PhD, Associate Professor)Kreie, Andre(PhD)Ashagire, Bekele(B.Pharm, MPH, MBA)Yadesa, Diriba2020-11-202023-11-062020-11-202023-11-062020-05http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/23403Assessment 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.en-USEPSA, Pharmaceuticals, Procurement, TenderingThesis