As stated throughout the documentation under the Bank’s consultation process, transparency is crucial to achieve good procurement results. A clear definition of process and requirements serves as leeway to ensure integrity and transparency. Process transparency is guaranteed through adequate communication of results and rationale to all bidders but also by implementing mechanisms that ensure that suppliers in the of medical technology comply with the existing Codes of business Standards (Advamed; Eucomed, Medded, etc). Integrity is not only related to the procurement process itself, but is also connected with the Industry’s commitment to deliver adequate affordable technology considering patients’ needs and development objectives. In this document this topic is developed further in the section dedicated to the BORROWER’S PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES (DRAFT). VALUE FOR MONEY & MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY Many medical technologies involve risk assessment and long-term (positive) impact that are best assessed at the tender award stage to enable buyers to purchase the best value for money, so the MedTech Industry supports the World Bank’s view that [should] apply life cycle cost and “borrowers cost-effectiveness decision making, which can be used to mitigate any higher upfront cost exposure and ensure delivery of optimum value for money.” () For the MedTech industry, achieving value for money in health care is all about patient health “(…) outcomes per unit of currency spent” and both cost and non-cost factors” (). The non-cost “encompasses factors include for example: efficient delivery; technical benefits/merits; safety, i.e., ability to lower or minimize adverse events or complications including hospital readmissions; clinical effectiveness, including reductions in morbidity or mortality or as measured by patient-reported outcomes and patient satisfaction and preference; expenditure reduction on other healthcare products and/or services; warranty, maintenance, customer care and clinical training and support. non-cost factors that are also important to highlight are the societal benefits, e.g. improved patient quality of life, reduction in spend outside the health budget (i.e. productivity and social care gains due to fewer missed days of work). These overall objectives for the Health Care system are paramount and distinguish the sector.
As stated throughout the documentation under the Bank’s consultation process, transparency is crucial to achieve good procurement results. A clear definition of process and requirements serves as leeway to ensure integrity and transparency. Process transparency is guaranteed through adequate communication of results and rationale to all bidders but also by implementing mechanisms that ensure that suppliers in the of medical technology comply with the existing Codes of business Standards (Advamed; Eucomed, Medded, etc). Integrity is not only related to the procurement process itself, but is also connected with the Industry’s commitment to deliver adequate affordable technology considering patients’ needs and development objectives. In this document this topic is developed further in the section dedicated to the BORROWER’S PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES (DRAFT). VALUE FOR MONEY & MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY Many medical technologies involve risk assessment and long-term (positive) impact that are best assessed at the tender award stage to enable buyers to purchase the best value for money, so the MedTech Industry supports the World Bank’s view that “borrowers [should] apply life cycle cost and cost-effectiveness decision making, which can be used to mitigate any higher upfront cost exposure and ensure delivery of optimum value for money.” () For the MedTech industry, achieving value for money in health care is all about “(…) patient health outcomes per unit of currency spent” and “encompasses both cost and non-cost factors” (). The non-cost factors include for example: efficient delivery; technical benefits/merits; safety, i.e., ability to lower or minimize adverse events or complications including hospital readmissions; clinical effectiveness, including reductions in morbidity or mortality or as measured by patient-reported outcomes and patient satisfaction and preference; expenditure reduction on other healthcare products and/or services; warranty, maintenance, customer care and clinical training and support. non-cost factors that are also important to highlight are the societal benefits, e.g. improved patient quality of life, reduction in spend outside the health budget (i.e. productivity and social care gains due to fewer missed days of work). These overall objectives for the Health Care system are paramount and distinguish the sector.