World Health Orgainsation Official commends work of OECS Secretariat in Pharmaceutical Procurement.
December 20th, 2005
An official from the World Health Organisation (WHO) is impressed with the capacity of the OECS Secretariat to handle quality assurance matters relating to the procurement of drugs for the people of the sub-region.
These were the initial remarks of the WHO representative, who along with Pharmaceutical Procurement agency Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) of the Middle East attended an unprecedented joint mission from December 12-17th in St. Lucia at the OECS/Pharmaceutical Procurement Service.
Representing the WHO, Ms. Marthe Everard, who along with Dr. Sophie Logez assessed the OECS/PPS’ Quality Assurance Programme said the visiting delegates were “very impressed” with the services the OECS/ Pharmaceutical Procurement Service.“I am impressed by the way you work, the highly efficient office, the highly qualified staff. They are very knowledgeable.
They believe in their work. There is a high level of trust in the scheme and the countries need to really appreciate what the OECS/PPS is doing and continue to meet their financial commitments. Quality assurance is really the core of all the operations in procurement and there are also counterfeit operations affecting this part of the world and so we have to be prepared.”
The WHO official stressed her understanding of the challenges facing OECS/PPS and similar entities in the battle against counterfeit drugs. Everard is suggesting that the OECS Council of Health Ministers consider a regulatory authority for the registration of products and suppliers that deliver into the sub-region.
“This is a global problem. These are business people who don’t care about what they are doing and they produce even capsules with flour. That is criminal and they should really be prosecuted. The thing is that from the outside of a capsule you cannot see it and that is the problem that we face with pharmaceuticals and therefore you need to strengthen your quality assurance system so that you can minimize illegal traders from entering your market. PPS as an organization is really concerned and in the work we have done this week they tried to strengthen their information capacity, how they can screen out this kind of supply, the issues and the group from the Gulf Cooperation Council were very helpful because they too have the same problems.”- Everard
The fact finding mission assessed and informed the methodology of the OECS/PPS in ensuring that regionally procured drugs are safe and effective and conform to international specifications.The two-member delegation of the GCC Dr. Ahmed Khateeb and Mr. Hayder Zain shared experiences and expertise regarding best practices of centralized pharmaceutical procurement in the Middle East.
Interestingly the OECS PPS and the GCC are the two best-known multi-state pharmaceutical pooled procurement agencies. Both Pharmaceutical Procurement agencies are acting on behalf of governments and although different in consumer population size, they follow the same principles, guidelines and documents.
The OECS/PPS and their guests also discussed areas of technical cooperation in specialized software for tendering and contracting. Managing Director of the OECS/PPS Francis Burnet is very pleased with the outcome of the visit.“ I think what really came out this week is that drug assurance is not only testing products at laboratories but the whole gamut of activities spanning from pre-qualifying suppliers to storage distribution and post marketing quality control.”
The recent joint mission is also the first occasion that the OECS/PPS has hosted the World Health Organisation at its Secretariat’s Headquarters at Morne Fortune in Castries.
Contacts:
Dr. James St. Catherine OECS HAPU
Kendol Morgan Senior Communications Officer OECS Secretariat kmorgan@oecs.org
Raymond O ’Keiffe Comm.Officer OECS Secretariat email: rokeiffe@oecs.org
December 20th, 2005
An official from the World Health Organisation (WHO) is impressed with the capacity of the OECS Secretariat to handle quality assurance matters relating to the procurement of drugs for the people of the sub-region.
These were the initial remarks of the WHO representative, who along with Pharmaceutical Procurement agency Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) of the Middle East attended an unprecedented joint mission from December 12-17th in St. Lucia at the OECS/Pharmaceutical Procurement Service.
Representing the WHO, Ms. Marthe Everard, who along with Dr. Sophie Logez assessed the OECS/PPS’ Quality Assurance Programme said the visiting delegates were “very impressed” with the services the OECS/ Pharmaceutical Procurement Service.“I am impressed by the way you work, the highly efficient office, the highly qualified staff. They are very knowledgeable.
They believe in their work. There is a high level of trust in the scheme and the countries need to really appreciate what the OECS/PPS is doing and continue to meet their financial commitments. Quality assurance is really the core of all the operations in procurement and there are also counterfeit operations affecting this part of the world and so we have to be prepared.”
The WHO official stressed her understanding of the challenges facing OECS/PPS and similar entities in the battle against counterfeit drugs. Everard is suggesting that the OECS Council of Health Ministers consider a regulatory authority for the registration of products and suppliers that deliver into the sub-region.
“This is a global problem. These are business people who don’t care about what they are doing and they produce even capsules with flour. That is criminal and they should really be prosecuted. The thing is that from the outside of a capsule you cannot see it and that is the problem that we face with pharmaceuticals and therefore you need to strengthen your quality assurance system so that you can minimize illegal traders from entering your market. PPS as an organization is really concerned and in the work we have done this week they tried to strengthen their information capacity, how they can screen out this kind of supply, the issues and the group from the Gulf Cooperation Council were very helpful because they too have the same problems.”- Everard
The fact finding mission assessed and informed the methodology of the OECS/PPS in ensuring that regionally procured drugs are safe and effective and conform to international specifications.The two-member delegation of the GCC Dr. Ahmed Khateeb and Mr. Hayder Zain shared experiences and expertise regarding best practices of centralized pharmaceutical procurement in the Middle East.
Interestingly the OECS PPS and the GCC are the two best-known multi-state pharmaceutical pooled procurement agencies. Both Pharmaceutical Procurement agencies are acting on behalf of governments and although different in consumer population size, they follow the same principles, guidelines and documents.
The OECS/PPS and their guests also discussed areas of technical cooperation in specialized software for tendering and contracting. Managing Director of the OECS/PPS Francis Burnet is very pleased with the outcome of the visit.“ I think what really came out this week is that drug assurance is not only testing products at laboratories but the whole gamut of activities spanning from pre-qualifying suppliers to storage distribution and post marketing quality control.”
The recent joint mission is also the first occasion that the OECS/PPS has hosted the World Health Organisation at its Secretariat’s Headquarters at Morne Fortune in Castries.
Contacts:
Dr. James St. Catherine OECS HAPU
Kendol Morgan Senior Communications Officer OECS Secretariat kmorgan@oecs.org
Raymond O ’Keiffe Comm.Officer OECS Secretariat email: rokeiffe@oecs.org
