The Social Security Department in putting out to tender the supply, storage, transportation and delivery of medication as needed.
Panama Government Purchase 2014-1-10-0-99-LP-123816:
"PUBLIC NOTICE ° 08-2014 FOR UNIT PRICING FOR SUPPLY, STORAGE, TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY AS NECESSARY, OF, DRUGS, SPECIAL MEDICATIONS, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND NARCOTICS, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCES AND OTHER SUPPLIES SET FORTH IN THE TENDER CONDITIONS, ITS ADDENDUMS AND ATTACHMENTS FOR HOSPITALS, CLINICS AND OTHER PLACES ESTABLISHED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT NATIONWIDE DURING THE TERM OF TWELVE (12) MONTHS MINIMUM COVERING THE EFFECTIVE AND PURSUIT FISCAL TERM AND EXTENSION OF THE TERM. "
Foro Guatemala has asked the Government to strengthen the mechanisms for transparency in procurement of medicines for the state.
Representatives from Foro Guatemala met with President Otto Perez, who was asked for more transparency in various fields, including medicine purchases for the state.
"... It is important to have more effectiveness in those areas where the issue of transparency has become more evident, for example the purchase of medicines and supplies for the health sector," said Renzo Rosal, member of Foro Guatemala.
Between 2009 and 2013 generic drugs lost ground to original brands, reversing a trend seen in the last five years.
The generics market in the country has a value of $159 million and represents 36% of the drug market.
Although their prices are lower than original brand name drugs, in recent years purchases by the public sector have been declining, while in the private sector they are growing but timidly.
The Guatemalan government has extended until December the term of three contracts for the supply of medical supplies.
The first contract was extended by the Ministry of Finance and aims to acquire "products for oral and parenteral nutrition, contrast media, liquids and electrolytes, antiseptics, master formulas, vitamins and other products", reported PrensaLibre.com.
The government claims that the delay in the adoption of the eight outlets claimed by the company is due to red tape and not obstacles to investment.
"There is no obstruction. What there is is a process that must be met, and well, we have no problem with the eight more pharmacies added," said Orlando Solorzano, the Minister of Development, Industry and Trade (Mific) to Elnuevodiario.com.
The government has extended for another year three open contracts for the provision of medical supplies, which should have expired in 2010.
Three ministerial agreements published in the Diario de Centro America explain that the measure was taken to avoid the shortage of drugs such as "analgesics and anti-inflammatories, antacids, antiemetics, anti-flatulents, enzymes, laxatives, oral nutrition, muscle relaxants, antihypertensives, anti-infectious, and antiseptics ... ", reported Prensalibre.com.
The Government of Honduras has overturned a drug tender for $24.4 million and announced that the purchase will be made through a trust with private banks.
Elheraldo.hn reports that "the purchase was declared unsuccessful based on the State Procurement Act being contrary to national interests in virtue of the fact that it involves the purchase of medicines at a higher price than currently received by the Health Department through a trust with the private banking system".
The second bidding process for supplying medicines for health centers is expected to start this week.
The $10 million is part of a trust given by the Honduran government to Banco de Occidente to acquire the drugs, said the head of the Central Medicine Store, Martha Escobar.
She added that the conditions are ready for a second tender to be held in a transparent manner, as there is "no money under the table".
Although there are $5 million available for the purchase of medicines in the University Hospital, not one pharmaceutical company has submitted bids.
"We currently have funds in excess of $5 million, funds that we havent been able to use due to a lack of offers and we have to find a way out of this situation," said Julieta Castellanos, rector of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (Unah).
The Social Security Department in Panama is putting out to tender the supply and delivery of special medicines and other supplies to hospitals, clinics and other places to be determined.
Purpose of award:
PUBLIC NOTICE No. 01-2014 FOR UNIT PRICING FOR THE SUPPLY, STORAGE, TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY AS REQUIRED OF MEDICINES, SPECIAL MEDICINES: CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND NARCOTICS, BIOLOGICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL SUBSTANCES AND OTHER SUPPLIES THAT ARE SET OUT IN THE TENDER CONDITIONS, ITS ADDENDA AND ATTACHMENTS FOR HOSPITALS, CLINICS AND OTHER PLACES TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY DURING THE MINIMUM TERM OF TWELVE (12) MONTHS WHICH SPANS THE FISCAL YEAR AND EXTENSION OF THE TERM.
The arrival of Honduran chain Kielsa has raised fears over a market takeover and monopolistic practices.
"This is a Honduran chain entering the market using the hook of discounts and low prices, supposedly favoring large wholesalers, bankrupting small and medium business, and without any counterbalancing competition, they are the owners of the market," said the president of the United Pharmacy Association of Nicaragua (AFUN), Alberto Lacayo.