Voluntary information and price sharing database: a scoping review of the pricing and procurement landscape across eight commonwealth member states
Authors: Rutter V , Ocran P , Osi N S , Kebirungi B 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Launched in 2021, the Voluntary Information and Price Sharing Database (VIPSD) aims to support procurement methods with an emphasis on price transparency, reducing costs, and sharing information on health products, suppliers, and supply chains amongst Commonwealth member states. The creation and implementation of the VIPSD has been endorsed by successive Commonwealth Ministries of Health, during their annual meetings, in 2021 and 2022. To date, there has been limited deployment of the database in member states, in part due to various pooled procurement initiatives that were set up during and post-pandemic. In 2023, the Commonwealth Health Ministers meeting highlighted several issues around medicines shortages, of which pricing and price transparency were cited as some contributory factors1-3. VIPSD was seen as a valuable resource to help address some of these issues.

Aim
This scoping review aimed to explore the procurement landscape of medical products and establish how VIPSD can support procurement systems in select Commonwealth member states.

Methods
Eight Commonwealth member states (out of 56) were selected from the regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, Pacific, the Caribbean, and the Americas: Bangladesh, Dominica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Selected countries represented health systems’ diversity, larger and smaller populations, established and developing procurement pathways and Commonwealth regionality. Data collection was conducted using a standardised proforma and predefined inclusion criteria: procurement/pricing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and other goods; public sector stakeholders; IT systems/databases and their scope; issues to consider e.g. registration, regulation, detection of substandard medicines. Evidence was screened using Excel and thematically analysed until saturation. No ethical approval was required for this review.

Results
The results of the pricing landscapes, in the 8 countries chosen for the scoping review, showed a diverse range of pricing policies and approaches to ensure affordable access to medicines. Three (3) countries (Malaysia, Malta and South Africa) had national pricing policies, 3 countries (Bangladesh, Dominica and Kenya) did not have any national pricing policy and for 2 countries (Solomon Island, and St Vincent and Grenadines) this information was unclear. The scoping also showcased a diverse array of legislative frameworks, models and successes of the procurement landscapes in the various countries. Across the 8 countries there were numerous pricing and procurement systems/databases currently in use, mainly led and managed by their respective governments, through centralised teams. Some of the challenges in the pricing and procurement landscape included: lack of comprehensive framework leading to medicine price disparities, stock-outs and shortages, budgetary constraints and delayed procurement process.

Discussion/ Conclusion
Across all 8 countries scoped, our review highlighted that a database such as VIPSD would be valuable in supporting pricing and procurement in key areas such as enhanced transparency and fair pricing, collaboration for improved access, mitigating price disparities, equitable access to innovative health commodities, routine reporting and data driven decision making. However, several challenges of VIPSD, such as the scope and remit of VIPSD, issues around data completeness and transparency in pricing, and funding for VIPSDs’ development, deployment and maintenance also need to be addressed.

References
1. Kasonde L, Tordrup D, Naheed A, Zeng W, Ahmed S, Babar ZUD. Evaluating medicine prices, availability and affordability in Bangladesh using World Health Organisation and Health Action International methodology. BMC Health Serv Res. 2019 Jun 13;19:383.
2. Babar ZUD, Ibrahim MIM, Singh H, Bukahri NI, Creese A. Evaluating Drug Prices, Availability, Affordability, and Price Components: Implications for Access to Drugs in Malaysia. PLoS Med. 2007 Mar;4(3):e82.
3. Mackintosh M, Tibandebage P, Njeru MK, Kungu JK, Israel C, Mujinja PGM. Rethinking health sector procurement as developmental linkages in East Africa. Social Science & Medicine. 2018 Mar 1;200:182–9.