E-drug: Pre- Qualification of Suppliers (cont'd)
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Dear Valerie,
Greetings. I refer to your request for information on this subject.
In the first instance, please contact Kari Bremer at WHO, whose area
of work this applies to. She may be in a position to advise.
From our own experience, we have not come across any standard or
internationally accepted protocol for pre- qualifying suppliers. As
you mention in your e-drug email, a number of buyers formulate their
own protocols, most of them based upon their own experiences in their
countries (eg, how much hussle they get from so-called 'suitcase
merchants' who may be time-waters). We have come across this type of
protocol, however, a few are extracted from a standard Tender terms
and conditions.
Many suppliers who base their activities on WHO standards of good
practice in this business, do conduct their own 'pre- qualification'
or validation of manufacturers and other suppliers from whom they
procure medical products. However, many end- users forget that they
can validate each supplier and can set up a selection system, using
whatever criteria they find relevant (in the absence of an
international standard).
I think establishing such a protocol would certainly help in
controlling just who enters what must be a very lucrative market,
certainly in the eyes of those who want to make a fast buck! It would
also help in establishing good procurement practice within the
buying institutions.
Regards,
Bonnie
Bonnie Fundafunda Ph.D, MBA, B.Pharm.
Marketing Manager
ECHO International Health Services Limited
Ullswater Crescent, Coulsdon, Surrey CR5 2HR, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 8660 2220
Fax: +44 (0)20 8668 0751
email: bfunda@echohealth.org.uk
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