Creation of transparency in the use of resources in the conditions of COVID-19 in Moldova

This is another significant step towards transparency in the use of funds, which means increasing the efficiency of procurement.
Constantin Cearonovski Member of the Board of Directors, Public Association "Positive Initiative"

Problem and task

During a pandemic, one of the main tasks is to ensure the availability of medicines and preventive drugs in medical institutions and pharmacies. The measures taken by the authorities to ensure the urgency of procurements, in addition to the positive effect, can have an impact on reducing transparency and inefficiency risks using budget funds. Moldova faced the vital task of mobilizing all the resources available in the country and ensuring the most efficient use of funds allocated to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Solution 

Partners were mobilized and an informal Coalition of public organizations was created for observing the principles of transparency and efficiency in the use of public money in a pandemic and the projected consequences of COVID-19 in the Republic of Moldova.

Open applications were sent to the following state structures: the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the Commission for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Moldova, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, the Ministry of Finance, the National Medical Insurance Company, the State Procurement Agency, the Center for State Central Procurement in Healthcare, the National Agency of Dispute Resolution.

On March 31, 2020, an Open Appeal of public organizations was published on compliance with the principles of transparency and efficiency in the use of public money in a pandemic and the projected consequences of COVID-19, on April 23, 2020, an Appeal was published due to a critical deterioration in procurement transparency, and on April 29 2020 – Civil society statement on the response of the Ministry of Finance on transparency and efficiency in medical procurement. The documents called on the authorities to ensure the transparency of medical procurement, in particular, there were requirements to publish detailed lists, technical specifications, the number of planned purchases and contracts for the purchase of medicines, medical devices and medical equipment with specifications, quantities and prices, data on supplies, as well as urgently finalize the necessary functionality of the electronic procurement system.

Result 

A coalition of NGOs for observing the principles of transparency and efficiency in the use of public money, together with the Ministry of Health, with the support of the Open Contracting Partnership, developed the tender.health online platform. This is a site where you can find information on procurement of medical facilities for the fight against coronavirus. The tender.health website will update information on which products all medical institutions purchase, in what quantity, for what amount and with which supplier they work with. Each website visitor will be able to see what they spend budget money on. Moreover, now, before purchasing, hospital representatives will be able to quickly check and select a supplier, compare prices. The Ministry of Health, in turn, will be able to analyze data on procurement of hospitals.