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HPSP hits yet another snag

By Naimul Haq
All procurement of goods, works and services funded by the World Bank in health sector is being delayed due to complicated procedures resulting in complete standstill In many areas.
Some health ministry officials. worried about the unnecessary delay, say that many of the vital health programmes are yet to take off due to either lack of consultants, equipment or final evaluation of proposals.
Since the start of the fifth five-year health programme (HPSP) in July 1998 the Bank informed the government that it would review all procurement of medical equipment, services of consultants for individual programmes and bids for contracts covered under the International Development Association (IDA) credit. It said the procurement plans should be updated annually and be forwarded to IDA for review.
It further said services are to be procured under contracts awarded through quality control (QCBS) procedures. However. services less than 100,000 US dollar equivalent per contract may be procured without the Bank’s review.
"The procedures now take much longer than before delaying awarding of contracts of consultants and works and arrival of equipment." said a senior health directorate official seeking anonymity.
By now drugs and equipment worth Tk 160 crore were supposed to be spent for respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, leprosy and safe motherhood programme under the Essential Package Services (ESP) but very little procurement has been made so far throwing many of the programmes in Jeopardy.
"Many of the scheduled programmes could not be implemented due to delay in approval of plans like procurement of drugs, hiring of consultants and construction although most of the 'operational plans' were forwarded well ahead of time." he added.
Sighting an example he said. "The Canadian government had
given one million dollar last year for reproductive health programmes. Not a single penny could be used until today. Expressing concern a number of Canadian government officials came to Bangladesh last week to find the fate of the fund. It's quite an embarrassing situation here."
Sighting another example he said. “For approval of a short list of agents for procurement of goods it took more than four months from April to August. In between the Bank took almost a month to rexdew and forward the recommended short list of the agents."
Another official said. "In many instances donor money either lapsed or rolled over due to such problem. It creates problem at both end — at the grassroots as well as high ups in the ministry because, according to HPSP schedules, many of the programmes are supposed to be operating now."
Health ministry high officials said that in many cases the Bank seeks explanations. Justification or detailed reasoning delaying procurement pro-cess.
They also said that the Bank's procurement section lacks skill and manpower Is inadequate.
Earlier to this decision, the government purchased equipment, services and work directly without any delay.
Tne concerned World Bank official in the procurement section refused to make any comment regarding the allegations.