The Health Ministry has placed over a dozen emergency notices to procure essential drugs and medical resources to address acute shortages in public hospitals. The Ministry has published at least thirteen procurement announcements under the World Bank-funded health emergency financial facility. The Ministry has also placed six tender calls for cardio-thoracic items and dental units directly under the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
The Ministry has allocated an additional Rs. 30 billion to address immediate medical needs for medical supplies, sufficient for the next three months. A five-member committee, headed by Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, has been appointed to devise a transparent scheme for procuring quality drugs and medical devices. The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is being directed to expedite the approval process for FDA-approved drugs and reference drugs from other countries that collaborate with the Health Ministry.
