The Ministry of Health of the Nation established a maximum limit for the purchase of medications in national hospitals, aiming to promote good practices in the procurement of health supplies. Hospitals must purchase medications at prices not exceeding the retail price minus 35%.
According to this new regulation, hospitals may acquire medications for a maximum of 65% of the retail price of the specific medication. Any purchase that exceeds these limits must be considered an exception and properly justified before the Administrative Management Secretariat of the Ministry of Health.
After analyzing the purchasing methods in hospitals, it was observed that medications were being acquired at the retail price or even above this reasonable cost limit. Given the quantity of medications purchased by these institutions, it was determined that this situation could not continue in this manner.
In order to optimize the use of resources and improve their management, hospitals will be provided with a reference price list for medications. The direct savings generated by this measure can be allocated to other priority areas, such as improving the salaries of health workers, with the goal of strengthening the healthcare system.
The measure adopted by the national Ministry of Health is part of the strategy to use data in order to make more effective decisions in resource management and maintain uniform policies in the procurement of medications and supplies in the healthcare sector.
