Kinshasa, May 27th, 2025 (CPA).– The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has confirmed its commitment to strengthening access to essential medicines in the region by activating the Group Purchasing Services (GPPS) at a high-level dialogue held in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly, according to a press release. ‘SADC has reaffirmed its commitment to improving access to essential medicines in the region. This commitment was made during a high-level dialogue organized at the World Health Campus in Geneva, on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly,’ the SADC secretariat’s X account read.
According to the source, this strategic event brought together senior officials from SADC Member States and key global health partners, marking a decisive step in the implementation of the SPPS, a mechanism aimed at ensuring affordability, security of supply and equitable access to quality health products. ‘This is not just a reform of public procurement, but a commitment to health equity in our region. The SPPS gives us the tools to act collectively, and the time to act is now’, said Dr Douglas T. Mombeshora, Zimbabwe’s Minister in charge of Health and Chairman of the SADC Joint Committee of Ministers in charge of Health, quoted in the press release.
Coordinated by the SADC Secretariat with support from Unitaid, the Global Fund, UNFPA and GIZ, and co-financed by the European Union, the initiative is based on a phased approach involving information sharing, a pooled contracting model and the establishment of an eSPPS digital platform. According to the press release, the participants validated several immediate priorities, including the finalization of the SPPS charter, the creation of a steering committee made up of national procurement officers, and the identification of a revised list of priority products.
Several Member States, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe, expressed their willingness to pilot the first transactions under the SPPS, while highlighting the challenges associated with regulatory diversity and funding constraints. Technical and financial partners renewed their support for the initiative. UNFPA encouraged countries to use the Matching Fund for SPPS-compatible reproductive health supplies.
The Global Fund has proposed long-term purchase agreements as a transitional measure, while Unitaid has put forward a future initiative to support local production and develop viable markets for regional manufacturers, the SADC secretariat press release points out. Over the next 10 to 12 months, the joint efforts of the Member States and partners will aim to launch the first group purchases, harmonize national policies, establish solid governance and provide ongoing technical assistance, with a view to sustainability.