An Overview on Pharmaceutical Tendering Process

Abstract:

Objectives: World Health Organization (WHO) has implemented the Pharmaceutical tendering process for procuring the high-quality medicines from different firms to meet the needs of the countries which are having drug shortages. Materials and Methods: The main aim of the WHO is to get the quality products at low price which can be affordable by the patient. WHO constantly giving chance to different firms based on their qualification for tendering process. The pharmaceutical companies are inspected by WHO members to check whether the company is adhering with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) regulations and Quality Management system (QMS) requirements. Results: The WHO allows only prequalified pharmaceutical company for the tendering process (Restricted tender). By this process WHO allows the company which produces quality drugs at the affordable cost and complying with the all WHO regulations. Comparing the restricted to open tender, the direct procurement and competitive negotiations tender methods are little disadvantageous as the drugs are taken from highly reputed or single manufacturer which causes the price of the drug to be higher. In the open tender and restricted tender, the WHO can get the manufacturers who supply drug products at low prices.

Key words: Tendering process, Procurement, GMP, Pre-qualification, Bidding.