Officials involved in the medical procurement arrangements between Organisation
of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) are meeting in Antigua and Barbud to review
the programme through which all participating countries benefit.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at the Jolly Beach Hotel on Tuesday, Health
Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph calls for an expansion of the programme to other
areas of sub-regional development.
“In the area of procurement…we need to expand the opportunities for joint
procurement in the region. We started out with pharmaceuticals but I think we
need to explore what other areas we can explore. We should be looking at building
on the success we have achieved and look to do more than we are doing now,” he
stated.
One area where he has focused his attention is the need for the procurement of all
consumables for the treatment of kidney diseases. Antigua and Barbuda, he
reported has seen an increase in kidney diseases and he suggested that this may be
the case in other OECS territories.
Sir Molwyn urged participants not to limit themselves to the areas now being
served but to expand their minds and their horizons to other possibilities for future
cooperation. He noted that the issue of healthcare in many OECS countries is
among the highest costs which underscore the need for cooperation on other items
of procurement to lower these costs.
The gathering is the OECS – Pharmaceutical Procurement Service Mid Cycle
Review Meeting that concludes at the Jolly Beach hotel today.
