First Meeting of Procurement Committee on Medicines and Medical Equipment for COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment held

The 1st Meeting of Procurement Committee for Medicines and Medical Equipment on COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment was held at Office No 1, Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations yesterday morning. The meeting was attended by U Aung Naing Oo, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and Chairman of Procurement Committee, the Committee Members and representatives from concerned ministries.
In his opening remarks, the Union Minister expressed that due to the situation of Covid-19 last year, the committee activities were mainly focused on prevention, control and treatment measures and now the situation is improving compared to the previous year. He urged the Committee needs to refine its strategies and priorities to meet the current requirements. He recalled the Committee work done on implementation of CERP through fiscal and financial stimulus programmes to recover the national economy from the reversed impact of the Covid-19.
He also shared some major points of the Myanmar Economic Recovery Plan (MERP), which is under consultation with relevant ministries aiming to speed up economic recovery actions of the country’s economy.
Then, the Union Minister highlighted to undertake prompt actions by developing preparatory work programmes for prevention and control measures of the pandemic since the serious impact of Covid -19’s third wave suffered in neighbouring countries and, to provide the necessary supports to Ministry of Health and Sports for medicine and medical equipment with proactive and timely manners.
He also underscored the roles of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations to support the cooperation with bilateral and multilateral development partners to manage loans, grants and technical assistance effectively.
Following this, the committee members explained and discussed the status of logistics works for the distribution of medicine and equipment to the whole country, the progress on the procurement of medicine and medical equipment in line with CERP action plans, and updating on loans, grants and technical assistance received from development partners and the future plan for additional purchasing of medicine and medical equipment not only for current active cases but also for preparatory works for the third wave of Covid-19.
The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Minister and senior officials from the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations.—MNA