ON DEMAND, GDF TO ASSESS FUTURE OF DIRECT PROCUREMENT

Geneva, Switzerland - During its April meeting, the TRC adopted a plan to assess the future need for Direct Procurement (DP) services in those countries hardest hit by TB. It agreed to the demand assessment during its April meeting in response to increasing requests from countries for the service.

Findings from the assessment will be presented to the Coordinating Board of the Stop TB Partnership during its meeting in November 2005.

Launched in 2003, the DP service complements the existing GDF grant service by enabling countries with funds to procure high-quality TB drugs directly through GDF procurement agents.

Within its short lifespan, the service line has generated substantial interest: almost 25% of countries receiving grants have transitioned to DP; other countries are following suit.

The assessment will investigate whether this early success, combined with the increasing number of countries receiving GFATM grants to help finance procurement, will require the GDF to further broaden its supplier network to meet the needs for DP drugs.

The recent decision by the National TB Programme (NTP) of Kosovo to procure directly through the GDF reflects a trend in countries opting to procure directly through the GDF using funds provided through a GFATM grant.

Even before the announcement by Kosovo, several countries expressed an interest in using GFATM funds for DP. The GDF hopes that recent agreements with Bangladesh, Mongolia and Sudan are signs of a trend in collaboration that began earlier this year, when the first shipment of GFATM-financed GDF patient kits arrived in Indonesia, en route to treat 300 000 patients.

The GFATM has indicated that it will support programmes that pursue this option. As Brad Herbert, Chief of Operations, explained, "In many countries, we are hitting an absorptive capacity issue which is delaying implementation of programs. It is at this point when we need to look to organizations like the Global Drug Facility to work closely with local entities."

A second report considered by the TRC would assess potential future demand from countries for paediatric drugs - if they are in the future approved by international health standards. The need for an assessment was identified after several requests for paediatric drugs from WHO regional officers, NTP managers and partners in the field.