Procuring supplies for children
First review of the UNICEF - Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University collaboration
Copenhagen, 12 September 2003: David Hoos, representing the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, visited UNICEF Supply Division on 11-12 September to review collaboration with UNICEF on the procurement of HIV/AIDS medicines for the MTCT Plus programme.
Nine month after the two partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding, the objective was to examine the procurement of nearly $2 million of HIV/AIDS drugs to 11 projects in eight countries* “Overall, a very productive and successful collaboration since antiretroviral drugs have been already delivered to the sites”, said David Hoos. Despite the geographical distance, the relationship was made easy by regular phone calls and updates. Hoos added, “We solved problems as they came up. We will now try to have systems in place to anticipate, and if possible prevent, unforeseen events.”
In addition to buying and delivering the drugs, UNICEF Procurement Services handled import licences, drug registration, inspection, storage etc. Procuring antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) remains a complex business, requiring a solid expertise not only in procurement but also in HIV/AIDS treatments and programmes. The procurement of ARVs on behalf of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University was made possible by the combination of teams of procurement specialists and experts in pharmaceuticals.
Both UNICEF and the Mailman School of Public Health expect operations to run more smoothly now that lessons have been learned from the first months of implementation. During his visit, David Hoos was able to get more familiar with the UNICEF structures and procedures. He recognized that he had not expected the procurement of ARVs to be so complex.
Since this is the first time that such a programme is undertaken, the forecasting of quantities of drugs needed was based on assumptions. UNICEF Procurement Services had to adjust quantities and delivery time to real time consumption. The Mailman School of Public Health appreciated Procurement Services’ flexibility.
A significant increase in drug demand from the sites is anticipated as the interest and enrolment of the local population grow fast. Access to care is an important part of the programme, as individuals and communities can see the direct benefit of AIDS testing and counselling. Thousands of people, including children, should have access to antiretroviral drugs for the first time in the next two years. In 2004 and 2005, UNICEF will procure a total of nearly $11 million of ARVs on behalf of the Mailman School of Public Health.
David Hoos, who visited several sites, is confident that the pilot projects will gradually be adopted on a larger scale. The 11 sites are places for learning and developing tools, and international partners work closely with local implementers. As the MTCT Plus programme expands, national and local authorities will be increasingly involved and trained so that they can progressively take over some aspects of the forecasting and procurement.
In 2002, UNICEF Supply Division supported 26 countries in accessing antiretroviral medicines. UNICEF was the first UN agency to launch an international tender for HIV-related medicines.
More information on the MTCT Plus Programme is available at www.mtctplus.org (this link will open in a new window)
* The eight initial countries selected under the MTCT Plus programme are Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda and Zambia.
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UNICEF Supply Catalogue
The UNICEF Supply Catalogue contains specifications for some 1,700 commodities based on the long experience of UNICEF Supply Division.
