Report on Updating List of Medical and Surgical Requisite Items, Including Specifications

The program focuses on improving access to essential medical products and related services, and on the appropriate use of medicines to ensure better health outcomes for all populations. The MTaPS Program has been working with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to update the list of Medical and Surgical Requisites (MSR), which includes instruments, consumables, accessories, linens, chemicals and reagents, equipment, and furniture. The existing MSR list, published in 2014, had 2,208 items in five categories, but it was incomplete and had duplicate items. The MTaPS procurement team conducted an initial review of the list, identifying missing items, items without specifications, and duplicate items. A consultant was engaged to assist in reviewing and updating the MSR list and related specifications. The updated list was shared with all officers at all levels of hospitals, districts, and sub-districts for their feedback in advance of a planned workshop. A series of mini-workshops was organized for subject matter experts, university professors, officers of hospitals, and government offices to receive feedback and validate input provided in the initial draft. The government mandated a committee for MSR items, which reviewed the updated list and provided recommendations and action points. The committee recommended categorizing the MSR list into six groups: Group A1 (instruments and equipment), Group A2 (consumables), Group B (reagents and chemicals), Group C (furniture), Group D (linen), Group E (medical waste management items), and Group F (COVID-19-related items). The committee also tasked MTaPS with updating the list by incorporating feedback received from mini-workshop participants and committee members by November 30, 2020. The updated list of MSR with specifications was submitted to the committee in two separate meetings. The committee recommended that the list be treated as the final draft and posted on the DGHS web portal. Stakeholders were given the opportunity to review the list and provide their response on specific items, including suggestions for additions or deletions with explanation and justification. The list and specifications, updated based on input received by December 2020, were posted on the DGHS web portal by January 2021 and continuously updated. The updated MSR list includes specifications for each item, which will help streamline the procurement and resource allocation of MSR. The list is categorized into six groups, and COVID-19 and waste management items have been prioritized. The list will be continuously updated, and a sub-committee has been formed to review the list and item specifications on a quarterly basis. The updated MSR list will help improve procurement efficiency of DGHS hospital facilities for uninterrupted availability of quality goods for effective diagnosis and treatment services. The list will also help ensure that health facilities have access to the necessary medical and surgical requisites to provide quality healthcare services to patients.