PORT MORESBY (The National/PINA) — Papua New Guinea is set to make huge savings on the purchase of essential drugs following the signing of an agreement with the Chinese government.
An understanding has been reached with North China Pharmaceutical Group Corp. and the National Health Department to procure medical drugs directly.
The framework of the agreement was signed by Health Minister Tommy Tomscoll and his delegation, including Health Secretary Nicholas Mann, during a four-day visit to China.
Tomscoll said his ministry considered the trip successful because the understanding to buy drugs directly from the manufacturer was economical.
“The government will be able to save 40 percent on cost if the drugs are bought directly from the manufacturers. The savings made will be used to purchase more medicines,” Tomscoll said.
He noted that after his inspection of the factories, he was convinced that the company observed international best practices set by the World Health Organization.
North China Pharmaceutical Group Corp. manufactures antibiotics on a large scale.
The company has grown over the past 40 years since its establishment in 1958 to become a conglomerate with a capacity to produce 300 varieties of pharmaceuticals, raw materials and preparations. The drugs mostly required from North China Pharmaceutical Group Corp. are for malaria, tuberculosis, antibiotics and vaccines.
Tomscoll said with this understanding in place it would enable the government to buy medicine directly and not through a third party, which he said was expensive.
