The EAC Regional Centre of Excellence for Vaccines, Immunization and Health Supply Chain Management (EAC RCE-VIHSCM) in close collaboration with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, successfully conducted a trial run and showcase of the EAC Pooled Procurement Mechanism (PPM) Digital Platform for Information Sharing in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, on Friday, October 11, 2024.
This landmark event gathered Permanent Secretaries/Principal Secretaries/Under Secretaries and other key participants from the EAC Partner States, including Heads/CEOs of Central/National Medical Stores, Chief Pharmacists, and Heads of Digital Health from ministries responsible for health.
The Pooled Procurement Information Sharing platform was developed after extensive engagements and consultations with key stakeholders from the EAC Partner States, as was directed during the 18th Ordinary Meeting of the East African Community (EAC) Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health. It comes as a key initiative aimed at improving access to affordable and quality-assured medicines across the region.
Dr. Harriet Akello Pasquale, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in South Sudan and Chairperson of the meeting remarked, “Today marks a defining moment for us all. The development of this Digital Platform for Information Sharing is not just a technological achievement, it is a strategic tool that will transform how we, as EAC Partner States, collaborate to ensure the availability of high-quality, affordable medicines for our citizens. The demonstration shared has clearly shown that the system is fully functional, ready for deployment, and will enable seamless sharing of critical health data across borders, thus enhancing transparency, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in procurement processes.
Hon. Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, stated, “We have no doubt that the common Pooled Procurement will significantly contribute to the achievement of EAC Vision 2050, the aspirations of the African Union Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals. This initiative will accelerate the implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol and ultimately improve the well-being of East Africans. I commend the relentless efforts of our Partner States’ experts and the leadership of the EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health; the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the EAC Regional Centre of Excellence for Vaccines Immunization and Health Supply Chain Management, for working tirelessly and enabling us to come this far.”
The EAC PPM envisions a sustainable and cost-efficient supply chain for health commodities, potentially saving EAC countries up to $1.15 billion annually by streamlining procurement processes. This initiative not only aims to improve access to medicines but also empowers the EAC to shape its pharmaceutical market, ensuring demand and incentivizing local manufacturing.
This initiative has received significant support from various partners, including the German Financial Cooperation through the German Development Bank (KfW), the African Development Bank, the World Bank, Sida, GAVI, and UNICEF. Their contributions are very instrumental in driving the successful implementation of the EAC PPM.
The successful trial run serves as a precursor to the final launch of the EAC Pooled Procurement Mechanism, set to take place during the upcoming 25th Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health.