E-DRUG: National Medical Supplies Fund
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Dear e-druggers,
The Central Medical Supplies Public Corporation, CMS,
is an organisation with a lengthy, 80 years, pedigree. At different points of
time in its history, there has been no hesitation in making the changes necessary for CMS to maintain its mission, i.e. to serve the public interest, ensuring access to quality essential medicines and commodities at all times.
Such a point of time has come again as its current status as public
corporation is outdated and constrains further necessary improvements,
especially in financial and personnel management. The change of the CMS’ legal
status is essential for it to be able to function as a proper business entity
and continue its path of increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
“Blowing Winds of Change”, is the title of CMS’s evaluation report that has been conducted
in April 2012 by HERA.
With this CMS evaluation, management sought to give further direction for the
changes, which will lead to more efficiency and cost effectiveness and will
sustain the CMS mission to ensure access to quality essential medicines and commodities at all times.
As a response to the recommendations of the above
mentioned report, HE the president of Sudan has signed a new act the changes
CMS to a National Medical Supplies Fund (NMSF).
According to this act, NMSF is more autonomous and has been exempted from all governmental charges (approximately 10%). It becomes responsible, by law, for supplying health
commodities to all public health institutions and facilities. According to the
new act, the pooled procurement of public organizations is mandatory and the medicine
prices should be the same across the country, regardless of the distance from
central stores.
The purchasing of medicines with market authorization in Sudan
is the must. The sources of medicines with narrow therapeutic index or genetically
modified products and vaccines are clearly identified. These sources are
originators, prequalified products by WHO or generics from well regulated
countries recognized by the national medicine regulatory authority. The NMSF is
responsible for establishing branches at state levels. It also responsible for
the promotion of rational use of medicines and the development of the supply
chain for health commodities, including development of human resources.
The Arabic version of the Act is available at:
http://www.cms.gov.sd/content/CMS_FUND_LAW.pdf
Yours sincerely
Gamal Khalafalla Mohamed Ali PhD, MSc, PG Dip. (Health Econ.), B.Pharm (Hon)
Mobile +249912318615
National Medical Supplies Fund
Director General
P.O. Box 11995
Khartoum
Sudan
e-mail: gamalkh@cms.gov.sd