New medical tender procedure under consideration

The cabinet has considered a proposal made by the Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena to appoint a cabinet subcommittee to compile a new tender procedure for purchasing medicinal drugs.

The new procedure will facilitate the government to purchase drugs from a state directly. The Ministry of Health can come to agreements with the suppliers for three years to five years, Minister Sirisena said.

Addressing a function held in the Ministry yesterday, the Minister stated that he hoped to travel to India next month to discuss with his counterpart there to look into the possibility of purchasing drugs.

The aim of the proposed methodology is to supply the public with quality drugs in a timely manner for a cheaper rate, the Minister said. (www.colombopage.com)