E-procurement in the Brazilian healthcare system: the impact of joint drug purchases by a hospital network.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	E-procurement in the Brazilian healthcare system: the impact of joint drug purchases by a hospital network.
Alternate Title:	Proceso de compras en línea en el sistema de salud brasileño: impacto de la adquisición conjunta de medicamentos por una red hospitalaria.
Authors:	Sigulem, Fernando fsigulem@gmail.com, Zucchi, Paola
Source:	Pan American Journal of Public Health / Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública. Nov2009, Vol. 26 Issue 5, p429-434. 6p.
Subjects:	REFERENCE values, MEDICAL care, PRICE regulation, JOINT ventures
Geographic Terms:	BRAZIL
Abstract (English):	Objective. To evaluate the use of e-procurement to obtain supplies for a network of seven university hospitals with a joint purchase system. Methods. The study was carried out between October 2003 and October 2005. We analyzed nine joint purchases of 37 pharmaceutical items. All the items were purchased in at least twothirds of the nine occasions and/or were among the 10 items with the highest expenditure. The following aspects were recorded: price, number of suppliers providing quotes, type of supplier (distributor or manufacturer), reference value (lowest price paid per item by each hospital prior to the establishment of the joint purchase system), unit price for first purchase, and unit price for last purchase. The percent variation in price was compared in relation to the reference value, first and last purchases, and average unit price for the nine purchases. Results. A decrease in price > 10% was observed in 47% of the medications analyzed. A decrease > 20% was recorded in 32% of the 37 items. Five items (midazolam 5 mg 3 mL, tramadol 100 mg 2 mL, vancocin 500 mg vial, ceftazidime 1 g vial and cefepime 1 g vial) had a decrease ≥ 50% in unit cost in the first purchase compared to the last purchase value. The unit price for 26 items (70%) had an average reduction of 23%. Conclusions. E-procurement was successful in achieving real savings. The results show that the incorporation of new management technologies such as e-procurement in the healthcare setting may help overcome the management gap in the healthcare sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Spanish):	Objetivo. Evaluar la utilización de un proceso de compras en línea para obtener suministros para una red de siete hospitales universitarios con un sistema conjunto de adquisición. Métodos. Este estudio se realizó entre octubre de 2003 y octubre de 2005. Se analizaron nueve adquisiciones conjuntas de 37 productos farmacéuticos. Todos los productos se adquirieron al menos en seis de las nueve ocasiones o estaban entre los 10 productos de mayor desembolso. Se recogieron los siguientes datos: precio, número de proveedores que cotizaron productos, tipo de proveedor (distribuidor o productor), valor de referencia (menor precio pagado por producto por cada hospital antes de establecer el sistema conjunto de adquisición) y precio unitario en la primera adquisición y en la última. Se calculó la variación porcentual del precio con respecto al valor de referencia y los precios unitarios, tanto de la primera adquisición y la última como del promedio de las nueve adquisiciones. Resultados. El precio decreció más de 10% en 47% de los medicamentos analizados. En 32% de los 37 productos, el precio se redujo en más de 20%. En cinco productos (midazolam 5 mg, 3 mL; tramadol 100 mg, 2 mL; vancocina 500 mg, vial; ceftazidime 1 g, vial; y cefepime 1 g, vial), el costo unitario de la primera adquisición se redujo en 50% o más en comparación con el de la última adquisición. El precio unitario de 26 (70%) de los productos se redujo 23% en promedio. Conclusiones. Con el sistema de aprovisionamiento en línea se lograron ahorros concretos. Estos resultados demuestran que la incorporación de nuevas tecnologías de administración en instalaciones de salud, como los sistemas de aprovisionamiento en línea, puede contribuir a reducir las deficiencias administrativas en el sector salud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	MedicLatina

Description
Abstract:	Objective. To evaluate the use of e-procurement to obtain supplies for a network of seven university hospitals with a joint purchase system. Methods. The study was carried out between October 2003 and October 2005. We analyzed nine joint purchases of 37 pharmaceutical items. All the items were purchased in at least twothirds of the nine occasions and/or were among the 10 items with the highest expenditure. The following aspects were recorded: price, number of suppliers providing quotes, type of supplier (distributor or manufacturer), reference value (lowest price paid per item by each hospital prior to the establishment of the joint purchase system), unit price for first purchase, and unit price for last purchase. The percent variation in price was compared in relation to the reference value, first and last purchases, and average unit price for the nine purchases. Results. A decrease in price > 10% was observed in 47% of the medications analyzed. A decrease > 20% was recorded in 32% of the 37 items. Five items (midazolam 5 mg 3 mL, tramadol 100 mg 2 mL, vancocin 500 mg vial, ceftazidime 1 g vial and cefepime 1 g vial) had a decrease ≥ 50% in unit cost in the first purchase compared to the last purchase value. The unit price for 26 items (70%) had an average reduction of 23%. Conclusions. E-procurement was successful in achieving real savings. The results show that the incorporation of new management technologies such as e-procurement in the healthcare setting may help overcome the management gap in the healthcare sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	10204989