Experts from the Pharmacoeconomics Department are contributing to the European project PROCURE, which aims to improve efficiency and resilience of public procurement in the healthcare sector in the EU.
The project has recently successfully implemented the Delphi methodology to identify key elements for successful public procurement practices in the healthcare sector. This initiative aimed to define essential aspects that any healthcare public procurement process should follow to achieve optimal results. Experts in public procurement from 10 countries participated in multiple consultation rounds to reach a broad consensus on these critical elements.
The Delphi Methodology
To ensure a diverse and unbiased panel, healthcare procurement experts from various fields were recruited, including procurers, suppliers, health regulators, policymakers, researchers, and healthcare professionals. A total of 29 experts from 10 different countries contributed to the process, including an expert from the Pharmacoeconomics Department at Gesundheit Österreich GmbH.
The Delphi methodology began with the development of an initial questionnaire, based on extensive research and expert reviews. The process included two online consultation rounds via a web-based questionnaire, followed by a final face-to-face meeting in Zaragoza on December 12-13, 2024. This iterative approach allowed experts to refine their insights and reach a consensus on the core elements of a successful healthcare procurement process.
Key Results
The Delphi process produced a comprehensive list of criteria and categories, outlining the essential elements for successful public procurement in healthcare. This list serves as a benchmark for evaluating the effectiveness of any healthcare procurement process, covering aspects from legal frameworks to outcome evaluations.
Main Conclusions
The Delphi process provided several key insights that will shape future healthcare procurement practices:
- Specific Legal Framework – Establishing a robust legal structure to effectively regulate the entire procurement lifecycle.
- Unified Understanding of Sustainability – Ensuring all stakeholders have a common interpretation of sustainability within the procurement process.
- Capacity Building and Training – Providing continuous training for procurement officers and stakeholders to manage complex healthcare procurement processes.
- Standardized Metrics and Performance Indicators – Developing clear metrics for monitoring procurement execution to ensure transparency and efficiency.
- Preparedness for Emergency Situations – Creating a flexible legislative framework to respond promptly to crises while maintaining legal compliance.
- Evaluation Based on Patient and Healthcare Professional Outcomes – Emphasizing value-based procurement that prioritizes patient outcomes alongside economic considerations.
- Transparency, Equal Treatment, and Fair Competition – Ensuring fairness throughout the procurement process to build trust among stakeholders and enhance efficiency.
Impact and Next Steps
The Delphi methodology applied in the PROCURE project offers critical insights into best practices for healthcare procurement. The final list of key elements will be published on the project's website, serving as a reference for assessing procurement processes. This approach aims to improve patient outcomes, promote fairness, and enhance efficiency in healthcare procurement across Europe.
For further details, visit the PROCURE project website: https://www.projectprocure.eu/
Photocredit: PROCURE