(1) (a) (i) The following provinces do not have provincial contracts:
Officials in provinces who sign off on provincial tenders are:
(ii) Provincial officials who sign off on the payments for medication are:
(b) (i) The list of pharmaceutical companies is attached as Annexure A.
(ii) The companies are contracted using a competitive bidding process. Provinces purchase medicines from these contracted suppliers unless there is a breach of contract.
(2) (a) & (b) Medicine shortage is never a permanent problem. It changes almost everyday. Please supply the list of medicines which you believe we are short of and we will provide you with a reason.
(3) No. Medicines procured on tender are either approved essential medicines or formulary items reviewed by Provincial Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committees. The approval of an essential medicine includes a systematic evaluation of affordability which involves application of various pharmaco-economic tools.
(4) In the tendering process a competitive bidding process is used. Prior to advertisement of tender, provinces submit estimates and sign off on the estimated expenditure. In addition, price negotiations are entered into before a tender is finalised.
END.