SGGPO 06/10/2023 16:35

Regarding the situation of many localities lacking vaccines in the expanded immunization program, the Ministry of Finance has just sent a document to the Government Office to give comments on the procurement of vaccines for the expanded immunization program, ARV drugs, tuberculosis drugs and vitamin A.

The Ministry of Finance said that the funding for purchasing vaccines for the expanded immunization program has changed over the years. During the 2016-2022 period, this amount was paid by the central budget. However, from 2023 onwards, the central budget will not pay this amount and will be transferred to the local budget to ensure it.

The Ministry of Finance has sent three official dispatches requesting the Ministry of Health to develop a budget estimate for 2023 and provide guidance to localities on implementation. In case it is necessary to allocate the central budget to purchase certain medicines and vaccines for children under 5 years old, the Ministry of Health will submit it to competent authorities for consideration and decision to have a basis for allocating the central budget.

“Up to now, the Ministry of Health has not submitted to the competent authority a decision to allocate the central budget to purchase vaccines for expanded immunization. Therefore, the Ministry of Finance has no basis to allocate the central budget to purchase vaccines,” the Ministry of Finance stated.

Vaccine shortage for the Expanded Immunization Program is happening in many localities.

At the same time, the Ministry of Finance also clarified local recommendations on vaccine procurement difficulties. Accordingly, currently, 16 provinces and cities have reported difficulties and obstacles in purchasing expanded immunization vaccines and requested the Ministry of Health to conduct centralized bidding, place orders or negotiate prices.

However, the Ministry of Finance believes that the Ministry of Health's request to be assigned to synthesize the demand and receive authorization from localities to order domestically produced vaccine production units for use in expanded immunization is inappropriate. The Ministry of Finance requests the Government Office to synthesize the opinions of the Ministry of Justice on the content of this authorization.

Regarding the proposal for the Ministry of Finance to appraise and approve prices as a basis for localities to sign ordering contracts, the Ministry of Finance said that it only has the authority to issue maximum prices based on appraisal and proposals from the Ministry of Health in cases where the central budget is used. The Ministry of Finance does not have the authority to appraise and approve specific prices for ordering; it does not have the authority to issue maximum prices for products and services implemented from orders placed by local budgets.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health recently informed the press about measures to address the shortage of vaccines in the expanded immunization program. Accordingly, for domestically produced vaccines, the Ministry of Health said that because the manufacturing units are state-owned enterprises or public service units under the Ministry of Health, they are not eligible to participate in bidding.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health proposes that for domestic vaccines, localities register their needs with the Ministry of Health, authorize the Ministry of Health to place orders, and request the Government to allow purchases by ordering.

Furthermore, to meet the current urgent vaccine demand, the Ministry of Health recommends that the Government issue a Resolution allowing the implementation of a vaccine procurement mechanism for expanded immunization from local budgets.

For 10 types of domestically produced vaccines used in expanded immunization, the Ministry of Health recommends that the Ministry of Health synthesize the needs of localities, place orders, and synthesize plans of vaccine manufacturers to send to the Ministry of Finance; provinces and cities authorize the Ministry of Health to place orders with domestic manufacturers; the Ministry of Finance appraises and approves prices as a basis for localities to sign ordering contracts and make direct payments to suppliers.