Establishing Pooled Procurement Systems among Faith-Based Organizations: A Guidance Document for Successful Implementation

Faith-based organizations play a vital role in many developing countries in ensuring access to essential medicines and delivering health services to patients. This is particularly the case in rural areas, where public health facilities do not exist or are inadequate. However, many faith-based organizations face challenges with providing a continuous supply and reliable availability of essential medicines. The influx of poor-quality (counterfeit) medicines on the African continent is also a growing challenge. Furthermore, weak regulatory systems, poor enforcement of regulatory laws, and challenges associated with procurement and distribution of medicines by faith-based organization in many countries have resulted in varying approaches and designs of procurement mechanisms in this sector that are inefficient and not cost-effective.