UNDP, Health Ministry to enhance treatment of patients in Sudan

The Sudanese Ministry of Health, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the Ministry of International Cooperation have signed today an agreement on “Procurement Support to the Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan” with a total budget of $60 million for a duration of three years.

This project comes as a major breakthrough in availing life-saving medicines and other health commodities to enhance the treatment of patients in Sudan.

It is the first cost sharing agreement signed between the Federal Ministry of Health and UNDP, UNDP says in a press statement today.

The signing ceremony was attended by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Marta Ruedas, Health Minister Bahar Idris Abu Garda, and the Minister of International Cooperation, Kamaleldin Hassan Ali.

The project provides a strategic approach to strengthen the national public health procurement system and improve the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment of patients through procuring of medicines, medical and laboratory equipment and consumables for the National Medical Supplies Fund.

Drawing on UNDP’s global expertise, the project is expected to assist in the transformational scaling up of national capacities and systems through the procurement of efficient, transparent and timely life-saving health commodities, the statement reads.

The project is related to the Sustainable Development Goal No.3 'Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages' and Sustainable Development Goal 17 'Partnerships for the Goals', that make a bold commitment to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other communicable diseases by 2030.

The aim is to achieve universal health coverage, and provide access to safe and effective medicines and vaccines for all. Supporting research and development for vaccines is an essential part of this process as well as providing access to affordable medicines to all.

Furthermore, the project is aligned with the UNDP corporate Strategic Plan, and the UNDP Country Programme Document both aiming at strengthening institutions to progressively deliver universal access of basic services.

In Sudan, procurement of medicines and other health commodities for the public sector is challenged by lack of access to convertible currency and international banking transactions.

Since 2005, UNDP has assisted the Ministry of Health in the provision of procurement support services. UNDP has a specialised procurement office and a specialised team working on the implementation of large projects financed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – each with significant procurement expenditures.