Pharmacist to be included as BAC member

City officials recently requested the local government’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) to consider the inclusion of a city pharmacist as a member of the committee’s technical working group to represent the pharmacy and therapeutics body in the procurement of drugs and medicines in the city.

Under Resolution No. 410, series of 2023, local legislators stated that in view of the technical aspect of the procurement of drugs and medicines, the inclusion of a licensed city pharmacist may be of assistance to the BAC.

The council recognized that essential medicines are an integral component of the Universal Health Care program because they are needed for the delivery of high-quality health services.

Further, the city-wide manual for harmonized procurement and supply chain management which is required under the medical products, vaccines and technology building block of the UHC was approved by the local health board on April 26, 2023.

Entailed in the said manual is the effective and efficient procurement system that the right medicine and the right quality will be obtained at the right time in the right quantity and the right cost.

The manual also contains the existing government principles of the procurement and pharmaceutical supply chains management system tied with the creation of the pharmacy and therapeutics committee in the city.

In December 2021, Executive Order No. 161, series of 2021 was issued creating the pharmacy and therapeutics committee to perform the duties and functions related to all issues, policies and guidelines concerning the selection, procurement, distribution and use of medicines.

Copies of the resolution will be forwarded to the City Health Services Office for information, guidance, ready reference and further needed action. – Dexter A. See