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Emergency Procurement for Medical Equipment

and Supply

In spite of these challenges, the Medical Equipment Team played a
crucial role in ensuring adequate supply of critical medical equipment
and supplies. To do this effectively the team employed the central
procurement strategy. Here, we were able to procure supplies and
equipment on a large-scale. This meant that the MOH had the upper
hand in obtaining these equipment at a competitive price. It also meant,
we were able to stockpile and monitor dispersion and usage more
effectively. For this, the emergency procurement of PPE and medical
equipment was approved by the Secretary-General to the MOH on
30 January 2020. To facilitate this, the Procurement and Privatization
Division of MOH acted as the secretariat for the procurement.

In the initial phase, State Health Departments and individual MOH
facilities were given the responsibility to self-manage their own PPE
usage. However, this changed when Malaysia experienced its second
wave. At this time, the increasing number of cases and the proportional
increase in PPE usage meant that procurement needed to be escalated.
The Medical Equipment Team participated in the Central Emergency
Procurement of PPE exercise at headquarters on 25 March 2020.
Through analysis of data obtain as part of daily monitoring, the team
was able to forecast a 3 month requirement of supplies to be stockpiled
in each facility. In order to achieve this, the PPE working group was
directly involved in the procurement process that includes preparation
of product specifications, product technical evaluation and attending the
price negotiation meetings.

To ensure quality of items purchased through the emergency
procurement, strict standard operating procedures were put in place.
This also ensured all items met the required technical standard, was
safe and provided value for money. To achieve this, clinicians and
subject matter experts were invited to carry out technical evaluation pressure monitor sets. As part of the preparedness, MOH also ensured
and recommendation of equipment placement. On top of the centrally intensive care unit capacity were strengthened. This was done through,
purchased medical equipment, budget was devolved to all states purchase of ventilators and other critical care equipment such as powered
to continue emergency procurement especially for simple medical air purifying respirators, isopods, syringe and infusion pumps, patient
equipment such as stethoscopes, infrared thermometers, and blood monitors, mobile x-rays, and beds.

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