One of the perennial problems besetting devolved hospitals is the delayed delivery of drugs, medicines and other supplies.   Year-in and year-out, we labor in instituting measures to fast-track and clean up the procurement process, but all our efforts end in dismal failure since the same problems crop up.

There is a consensus that the root cause of all these is the too-centralized procurement process at the General Service Office in the capital.  There have been many suggestions from well-meaning employees but all arguments seem to stop when a provision of the Local Government Code is invoked  that the marketing arm of the province is only the GSO and no other office.

Hospital operations deal with precious human life.  Therefore, the element of time plays a pivotal role.  Delayed delivery of drugs, medicines, and other supplies can be disastrous to both hospital and patient.  It is particularly galling that many times this delay is due to an entire slew of people wanting to get their kickbacks.

This provision of the Local Government Code is counterproductive to hospital operations.  A too centralized procurement system is anathema to the spirit of devolution.  Isn’t it that the very essence of devolution is decentralization?

Hospitals are scattered all over the province and no single one should be given special consideration so as not to compromise the services which are patronized by 70% of the low-income clientele.

Sub-allotment of funds directly to hospitals should be done so that they can do their respective procurements, thereby ensuring availability of the aforementioned essential commodities at all times. Discussion questions:

1. If you were the writer, how would you handle this situation?
2. Recall an instance in the past when you had a ‘close encounter’ with an anomalous procurement process.  How did you deal with it?  Did you report your findings to your superiors? What action was taken to remedy the situation?  Or were there attempts to cover up the anomaly?
3. Is there pooled procurement of drugs and supplies in your locality?  If yes, how is it working so far?  If no, is this system something that your local government is looking to do?  What factors need to be addressed in order to institute pooled procurement in your locality?

< Back to Case Studies main page