The CNEP participates in MINSAL workshop to support work on surgical packaging and greater efficiency in drug purchases.

To provide information and contribute to the Packaging and Coordinated Purchases initiative carried out by the Ministry of Health (MINSAL), José Luis Contreras, Senior Economist at CNEP, presented relevant aspects identified in the ongoing study “Efficiency in Purchasing Management and Inventory Handling in Hospitals.” These findings could be helpful in hospitals’ packaging and purchasing processes.

As part of the expansion of the Regional Resolution Centers (CRR) strategy initiated by MINSAL, which, following 20 recommendations proposed by the National Commission for Evaluation and Productivity (CNEP) in 2022, led to a 58% increase in daily surgical procedures, José Luis Contreras participated in the first workshop organized by MINSAL called “Packaging and Coordinated Purchases.” This initiative aims to improve coordination between clinical teams and financial personnel at each healthcare facility where the CRR strategy is implemented.

Based on the findings of the study’ Efficiency in Purchasing Management and Inventory Handling in Hospitals’, José Luis Contreras highlighted the potential for significant financial gains through the implementation of standardized purchasing processes. With approximately 25% of the annual budget managed by the Central Government allocated to hospitals to purchase pharmaceutical products and medical devices, the impact of greater standardization in resource and expense management could be substantial.

Furthermore, Luciano González, coordinator of the CRR at the Ministry of Health, pointed out that “standardizing purchasing processes could contribute to achieving significant reductions in gross surgical costs, lowering the cost per surgery by up to 30%, which means that with the same budget, a greater number of Major Ambulatory Surgeries (CMA) can be financed.”

During the workshop, attended by various members of the 15 existing CRRs and medical and administrative deputy directors of Health Services (SS), Luciano González underscored that CRRs are part of the strategy implemented to reduce waiting times through increased productivity of surgical teams and improved purchasing processes.