The reliance on single suppliers for certain pharmaceuticals and medical products is making it difficult for State hospitals to procure essential items locally, with some products unavailable even in the private market, sources within the State health services told The Daily Morning yesterday (1).

The sources said hospitals sometimes struggled to purchase medicines, surgical consumables, medical devices and implants through local suppliers. In some instances, the same supplier served both the Government and private sectors, leaving hospitals with limited alternatives when stocks ran short.

Although the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) had taken steps to address monopolies, certain products were still supplied by a single supplier, the sources said. They added that the registration of multiple suppliers did not necessarily guarantee a regular supply of the required products.

The sources further said some registered suppliers failed to provide the items hospitals needed, while others reportedly waited until stocks in both the Government and private sectors were exhausted before supplying them. This made it difficult for hospitals to obtain essential items when they were urgently needed.

The sources said the proposed Government-to-Government (G2G) procurement mechanism could help address some of these difficulties. However, uncertainty persisted over its implementation and the availability of supplies through the proposed arrangement, they added.

The Cabinet approved the G2G procurement mechanism in July 2025, and discussions with potential partner countries, including India, were reportedly ongoing.

Attempts to contact the Deputy Minister of Health and the Director General of the Medical Supplies Division for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.