New GPC awarded contract for emergency medical supplies - sources

Three companies submitted bids to supply a number of emergency drugs to the Ministry of Health and sources close to the process say that the New GPC has been awarded the contract with a bid pegged at $171 million.

With insulin for over 150 children living with Type 1 diabetes currently running low and a larger order of pharmaceuticals not yet tendered for, the Ministry of Health had last month issued an emergency call for the supply of a number of drugs.

Insulin is the major item on the list of needs. Some 39,224 vials of Insulin Lente (zinc) in 100IU/ML or 10ml amounts are needed along with 10628 vials of the 70/30 insulin in 10ml amounts, the tender document for the supply of 43 drugs states.

Also needed is the malaria drug, Artemether, in three different doses.

The tenders were opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board on April 18th and the winners notified shortly after.

Below is a table which shows the three companies that bid and the respective amounts.

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony had told the Stabroek News that the pharmaceuticals are being sought to “bridge the gap” for especially children, until the larger tenders are advertised and distributed.

“We have 152 children who require insulin Type 1 without which they have problems and risk of death. Those children we are low (on supplies) and we are doing this emergency order for that. We have a bigger order to bridge this gap, but we don’t want to run out that is why we went to tender for the emergency supplies,” he said.

“This is precautionary, until the larger order…,” he added, while explaining that the ministry does not want to risk not having adequate amounts of medication.

The New GPC Inc would now have to deliver the drugs immediately or within 30 days of the commencement order.

The list of pharmaceuticals includes: carvedilol, ephedrine tablets, lantanprost eye drops, levothyroxine, novalgin, oxybutynin, amoxicillin injections, rifampicin, propofol injections and diclofenac eye drops, among other drugs.