News

Call for Interest" from individuals wishing to apply for membership of the Proposal Review Committee ("PRC")

December 2009

UNITAID provides funding for the procurement of medicines, diagnostics and related commodities on the basis of project proposals approved by the UNITAID Board and works primarily through collaborative actions with strategic partners. The Proposal Review Committee ("PRC") is an independent, impartial team of experts tasked with providing technical expertise to UNITAID on proposals and related projects submitted to UNITAID for funding. UNITAID is currently calling for expressions of interest from potential members of UNITAID's Proposal Review Committee, a key instrument for assuring sound technical review of funding requests submitted. More information is to be found at: http://www.unitaid.eu/en/Requests-for-proposals-RFP.html

Symposium 30th October 2009 on Donor Driven Pooled Procurement

August 2009

Pooled procurement: short term gain, long term pain?

What is the role of pooling demands, how does it affect product availability and access to drugs in developing countries?
Major steps have been set towards pooled procurement. But is this always beneficial to the patients needing essential drugs? Could one see also trends that it leads to a limitation of availability or even reduction of available medication?
Taking the aspect of quality, institutional donors demand FDA and/or WHO prequalification or other product quality requirements and often specific product characteristics, thus limiting the number of eligible suppliers.
Professional procurement agencies are aware and capable to meet these requirements but at the same time it could reduce the flexibility and margins of the responsive industry partners. For local or regional actors it often creates bottlenecks.

LAUNCH OF'ASSURED ARTEMISININ SUPPLY SYSTEM (A2S2)'INITIATIVE

20-07-2009

Woerden, the Netherlands - July 20, 2009 -- The past five years have shown an increasing demand for the supply of Artemisinin based Combination Therapies (ACTs), as the first line treatment for uncomplicated Malaria. It is forecast that this need will continue to expand in the future, especially as donors secure additional funding for ACTs. However, due to low artemisinin prices, competition from other crops and the international credit crisis, there has been a dramatic fall in the volume of plantings of Artemisia annua in 2008-2009 and a resultant drop in production of artemisinin. Unless this situation can be quickly reversed there is a very real threat of a shortfall in artemisinin supplies to meet the ACT needs for 2010 -2012.