Healthcare public procurement in the EU (Heading 1.2.1.2 of the AWP 2020)

Deadline: Jun 3, 2020  
CALL EXPIRED

Background and purpose of the call:

Public procurement can be deployed as a strategic tool to boost effective, efficient, resilient and sustainable health systems. Notably, the action will provide an opportunity for Member States to come together and reflect on how public procurement within the health sector can be performed and on their possible efficiency gains as well as on the benefits in terms of health outcomes. The aim of the action will be to provide a platform for discussion and research on the topic of public procurement in the healthcare sector.

Consolidating the existing knowledge and allowing Member States to have facilitated discussions on the topic will further provide a foundation for subsequent actions. The project should provide an analysis on what further, non-legal EU action (e.g. projects, research, and other actions) can be taken up to facilitate public procurement in the health care sector.

The action shall go beyond current initiatives such as the Expert Group on Procurement in the Health care sector (managed by DG GROW).

The action shall provide an opportunity for joint reflection and debate, knowledge sharing and also guidance on possible further actions.

Targeted population: National and regional health authorities, organisations that deliver public health programmes and healthcare services, citizens

Objectives pursued and expected results::

Objectives:

• To map initiatives, procedures and the organisation of public procurement in the health sector, including the procurement of medicinal products, medical devices and services
• To analyse available data in in public procurement in health care.
• To identify and analyse possible further EU actions in public procurement in health care
• To provide opportunities for discussion and knowledge sharing between actors in the area of public procurement in the health care sector in the Member States

Expected Results:

• A platform for knowledge sharing and discussion on public procurement in the health care sector
• Overview of public procurement in the health care sector within the EU

Description of the activities to be funded under this topic:

The action shall provide actors in the area of public procurement in the health care sector in the Member States with an opportunity to come together and reflect on public procurement in the health sector: how it can be carried out, possible efficiency gains and potential health benefits. The action will organize meetings to provide opportunities for discussion and research on public procurement in the healthcare sector. Further, the following activities shall take place:

• Mapping of Member State and EU initiatives on public procurement in the health care sector;
• Mapping of Member State procedures on public procurement in the health care sector in all Member States;
• Mapping of Member State organisation on public procurement in the health care sector in all Member States;
• Mapping of Member State methodologies and tools on public procurement in health care sector;
• Workshops and meetings to facilitate knowledge-sharing between Member States;
• Workshops and expert meetings to identify the needs of Member States in relation to procurement in the health care sector;
• Workshops and meetings to facilitate discussions on the possible ways forward in relation to EU cooperation on health care procurement;
• Analysis of available data (eg. electronic tender data via https://data.europa.eu/) in view of assessing untapped potential for budget savings and uptake of clinical best practices;
• Identification and analysis on possible further EU actions in the area of public procurement in health care;

Expected impact:

An overview of public procurement in the EU health care sector, consolidating the existing knowledge to provide a foundation for subsequent actions. The project should also provide an analysis on what further non-legal EU action (e.g. projects, research, and actions) can be taken up to facilitate public procurement in the health care sector.

Budget

Available budget for this topic: 350.000 EUR for 1 project.

The grant agreement will be awarded to the highest ranked proposal, up to the available budget of 350.000 EUR (EU-Contribution).