Programa UMBRAL II. Paraguay: Avances y Retos. Informe Final. Marzo 2012

The program was implemented by USAID | PROYECTO DELIVER, a joint effort between John Snow, Inc. and PATH, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under contract number GPO-I-01-06-00007-00. The program's objectives were to improve the efficiency of procurement units by implementing appropriate technology, support the General Directorate of Health Supplies (DGGIES) in reviewing the list of essential medicines and insumos, and strengthen the logistics management system of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPBS). The program also aimed to improve the availability of essential health products and insumos, particularly in rural areas. The program's activities included the strengthening of the MSPBS's procurement system, the implementation of technology to improve procurement efficiency, and the support of DGGIES in reviewing the list of essential medicines and insumos. The program also worked to improve the logistics management system of the MSPBS, including the implementation of a new software system and the training of personnel. The program's indicators included the number of procurement units that implemented technology to improve efficiency, the number of essential medicines and insumos available in rural areas, and the percentage of procurement processes that were completed on time. The program also tracked the number of protests from offerers and the number of reports of movement of insumos. The program's results showed a significant improvement in the availability of essential health products and insumos, particularly in rural areas. The program also improved the efficiency of procurement units, with a significant reduction in the number of protests from offerers. However, the program faced several challenges, including the lack of technical capacity in the MSPBS, the need for additional infrastructure, and the difficulty in implementing changes to the procurement system. The program's lessons learned included the importance of aligning with the needs of the MSPBS and the need for a clear strategy for implementing changes to the procurement system. The program also highlighted the importance of investing in the development of the MSPBS's technical capacity and the need for a clear plan for the implementation of changes to the procurement system. The program's recommendations included the need for additional funding to support the implementation of changes to the procurement system and the need for a clear plan for the implementation of changes to the procurement system. The program also recommended the development of a clear strategy for implementing changes to the procurement system and the need for a clear plan for the implementation of changes to the logistics management system.