Today, Moldova became the 38th country to sign the Joint Procurement Agreement in the health sector. This occurred during an official visit to Chisinau by Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides. The Commissioner met Ala Nemerenco, Moldova’s Minister of Health, for an in-depth exchange concerning the country’s health sector and the path towards EU integration. Moldova is now the sixth EU candidate country to join the Agreement.
The Joint Procurement Agreement is a legal and operational mechanism that allows participating countries to collaborate in the face of a severe health threat. It enables them to purchase essential supplies such as medicines and medical equipment jointly. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it facilitated the acquisition of personal protective equipment, needles and syringes for COVID-19 vaccination, ventilators, and medicines under equal conditions.
Participation in the Joint Procurement Agreement allows a country to benefit from the combined purchasing power of EU Member States and participating countries. This collaboration improves access and ensures greater security of supply for medical countermeasures in a health emergency by pooling needs and creating economies of scale.
The Joint Procurement Agreement also enhances participating countries’ preparedness for cross-border severe diseases. This is achieved through contracts for essential medical countermeasures before major outbreaks occur.
“Over the last five years, the Joint Procurement Agreement has become a critical tool allowing our citizens access to essential medical products in times of crisis. As such, it also empowers participating countries to prepare and respond to serious cross-border health threats,” Stella Kyriakides declared.
“Through this mechanism, EU, EEA and candidate countries prove that we are stronger when we work together as a European Health Union, ensuring that the health of nearly 480 million citizens is protected when faced with an emergency. I am delighted that Moldova has signed this Agreement today and is joining our ranks. We stand ready to support Moldova in any way to implement and benefit from it,” Commissioner Kyriakides added.
Commissioner Kyriakides also visited the Institute of Emergency Medicine and Oncologic Institute to meet healthcare professionals and patients.
The Commission recently signed a joint procurement framework contract to supply up to 665,000 doses of the avian flu vaccine from Seqirus, with an option for an additional 40 million doses. This contract aims to prevent avian flu and ensures that participating countries have access to medical countermeasures if needed.
Through its Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), the Commission manages the procurement procedures under the Joint Procurement Agreement in close collaboration with the participating countries. These countries can then purchase the contracted products using their national budgets.
