Direct deal for 610crore vaccine approved

Staff Reporter :

The interim government of Bangladesh has authorised the direct procurement of essential vaccines worth 610.17 crore taka from UNICEF.

The decision, which bypasses the standard open-tender process, was finalised on Tuesday, 6 January, during a high-level meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Economic Affairs.

Presided over by the Finance Adviser, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, the committee approved the Health Services Division’s proposal to acquire these life-saving doses for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) scheduled for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

The government’s decision to utilise the Direct Procurement Method (DPM) is rooted in stringent quality control and the unique logistical requirements of medical supplies. The Health Services Division briefed the committee on several critical factors:

All vaccines utilised in the EPI framework must adhere to the rigorous standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). UNICEF’s supply chain is globally recognised for maintaining these benchmarks without compromise.

Vaccines are highly temperature-sensitive. Procurement through UNICEF ensures a seamless “cold chain” from the point of manufacture to local distribution centres, significantly mitigating the risk of spoilage.

Despite bypassing competitive bidding, historical data suggests that UNICEF’s global bulk-purchasing power allows Bangladesh to acquire vaccines at a significantly lower unit price than through private intermediaries.
The procurement will be financed by repurposing international credit.

The committee revealed that USD 175.93 million remained unspent from a previous Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan initially allocated for COVID-19 projects. From this surplus, USD 49.92 million-equivalent to BDT 610.17 crore-has been earmarked for current immunisation requirements.

Since the inception of the EPI in Bangladesh, UNICEF has served as the primary partner for vaccine acquisition. Officials emphasised that any administrative delay caused by the traditional tendering process could jeopardise the routine immunisation schedule for millions of children. By securing this deal well in advance of the next fiscal year, the Ministry of Health aims to prevent stockouts of critical vaccines, including those for polio, measles, and rubella.

The Advisory Council’s approval ensures that the national healthcare infrastructure remains robust, leveraging international partnerships to navigate the complexities of global medical logistics while maintaining fiscal prudence.