Gov’t does not sole source for procurement of drugs – Dr Luncheon

TIMES INT'L

Government does not practice “sole sourcing” for the supply of medical drugs from any pharmaceutical company, head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon said during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday.
Dr Luncheon was at that time responding to a question asked by a media operative as to whether “government will continue almost sole sourcing” from one pharmaceutical company in Guyana.
It was stated that in the case of procurement of drugs, this cannot be done in any process, which does not first relate to competitive pricing with international suppliers.
“Anytime a local producer is selected, that provider in his or her submission had to be competitive with international providers. We use those that provide drugs in Guyana and the rest of the developing world. So you have to get a better competitive price than IDA (International Dispensary Association) for you to get an award,” he noted.
According to Dr Luncheon, if the IDA offers the same drugs at prices which are ‘better’ that the bid procured by a local entity, then government is obligated on the basis of its pricing policy to award the contract to the international entity.
“That is what makes this not sole sourcing. Sole sourcing essentially disregards a competitive component of the procurement. That is what sole sourcing does.”

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