Drug and Non-drug Medical Supplies Purchasing at Sawanprachalux Hospital During 2013-2014, Compared to Those of 2015–2016 and 2017-2018

Abstract

Objective: To study the outcomes of purchasing drugs and non-drug medical supplies (DMS) in the fiscal year (FY) 2013-2014 compared with those in the FY 2015-2016 and 2017-2018. Method: This study was a descriptive study in Sawanpracharak Hospital (SH). During the FY 2013-2014 and 2015-2016, the hospital purchased DMS based on the Regulations of the Prime Minister Office on Procurement 1992 and the Regulations of the Office of the Prime Minister on Electronic Procedures 2006. Later in the FY 2014, the procurement was based on the Declaration on DMS Management Guidelines by Committee, Joint Committee, or Sub-Working Group, and the Ministerial Regulations on the Guidelines for the DMS Purchasing Plan 2014, including the Ethical Criteria for Purchasing Medicines and Promoting DMS. For the FY 2017-2018, purchasing of DMS was in accordance with the Government Procurement and Supplies Management Act 2017 (the GPSM Act 2017). Results: In the FY 2013-2014, purchasing 54 items of drugs through tender at the regional level resulted in saving 58,126,068 baht for all hospitals in the region. In the FY 2015-2016, tender for the procurement of 30 drug items in the first round at the regional level resulted in the regional-level contracts in the FY 2017 leading to saving 33,078,912 baht for all hospitals, and saving 13,767,074 baht for SH. Tender for the procurement of 5 drug items at the regional level in the FY 2017 lowered drug prices leading to saving 418,928 baht. During the FY 2013-2016, tender of drug at the hospital level resulted in saving 676,508, 727,909, 2,289,042 and 37,937 baht per year respectively. For the FY 2017-2018, purchasing DMS in accordance with the GPSM Act 2017 by general invitations using electronic bidding method (e-bidding) in 8 drugs saved 4,567,267 baht for SH. Setting of median drug price motivated the companies with drug prices higher than the median to reduce the price of 5 items of drugs, leading to 5,648,472 baht in SH. SH were able to purchase 14 drug items at a price lower than the median price, leading to saving 4,924,650 baht. Contract of tender at the regional level in the second round of 2018 for 5 drugs led to cost saving in SH for 418,928 baht. The board of directors who participated in the procurement of DMS in the FY 2013-2018 reported that purchasing DMS by the method of general invitation using e-bidding enabled more competition and the hospital could get drugs with reasonable prices within an appropriate time span. Conclusion: Purchasing DMS under the GPSM Act 2017 with e-bidding and setting of median price lead to cost saving.