Consignment plan for CCMC drugs?

CEBU, Philippines - To ensure that the Cebu City Medical Center will always have enough supply of drugs and medicines for its patients, Cebu City Councilor Lea Ouano-Japson has proposed an ordinance that will allow the consignment system in the hospital.

Consignment is a method of assuring availability of stocks wherein the suppliers of drugs and medicines will be allowed to deliver their products to the CCMC pharmacy and they will be paid by the hospital for only those drugs and medicines consumed.

Japson explained that a consignment system is not a mode of procurement as embodied under Republic Act 9184 or the Procurement Act because there is no fund allotment or obligation for the consigned items.

She said the consignment  system was pioneered in Negros Occidental and has been proven an effective way to give substantial benefits in terms of increased revenues and adequate stocks of fresh and cheaper drugs and medicines without requiring a huge investment.

Only those suppliers that are accredited by the Cebu City government are allowed to place their products at the CCMC pharmacy either for sale or for the use of its confined patients.

The proposed ordinance provides that the selling price of the consigned items shall not be higher than the prevailing price of the same products in local private drugstores and outlets, even if the CCMC will impose a 10 percent increase of the price as operating cost.

The consigned products shall be subjected to inventory one month after the delivery and acceptance of the items and every 30 days thereafter.

In last Wednesday’s session of the City Council, the city legislators decided to first refer the matter to the City Legal Office for review and recommendation.

CCMC has been provided a P364-million budget for its operation this year, including the salaries of its more than 500 workers, and P80 million of that amount is being allocated only for drugs and medicines.

Hospital director Gloria Duterte is happy because with that budget for drugs and medicines as CCMC may no longer experience problems with lack of the needed drugs for its patients.

Although CCMC is a government-run hospital, patients are still required to pay their bills.  Those who cannot afford to pay will be assisted by public social workers to reduce their bills.  (FREEMAN)