Government is expected to save millions of dollars in medicine procurement following the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Government of India.
Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, Penioni Ravunawa, described the agreement as a milestone achievement for the ministry, the Government, and the people of Fiji.
“Since independence, we’ve only been buying or procuring medication mainly from the US and the UK,” Mr Ravunawa said.
“This is the third pharmacopoeia commission the Government has engaged with since independence.”
The new agreement will enable Fiji to purchase medicines directly from Indian manufacturers, streamlining the supply chain and significantly lowering procurement costs.
The MOU was signed by Mr Ravunawa and India’s Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, during his visit to Fiji.
Mr Ravunawa expects the agreement to improve medicine availability in Fiji while reducing the burden on government health expenditure.
