In line with UNDP Strategic Plan (2018-2021) and UNDP’s HIV, Health and Development Strategy – Connecting the Dots (2016-2021), since 2003, UNDP has worked as interim Principal Recipient for funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (Global Fund) in over 50 countries. In this role, it provides a range of implementation support to governments for large-scale health programmes, including the procurement of medicines and other health products. This work is complemented by capacity-building to strengthen national procurement and supply management systems, as a key component of establishing resilient and sustainable systems for health.

Building on this, a rapidly increasing number of governments are requesting UNDP to help strengthen national capacities and systems for the provision of health services, especially for the procurement and supply management of health products for communicable and non-communicable diseases.

A critical function of UNDP’s health procurement services is supporting public health institutions to procure health products at the best value and ensure their timely delivery to patients in optimal quality, according to international standards. The UNDP Quality Assurance Policy for Health Products was developed to assure the safety of all health products procured by UNDP, in line with international best practices. The Policy is based on WHO norms and standards for medicines and other health products and is aligned with Quality Assurance policies of other UN agencies and international organisations, such as MSF or ICRC. By detailing UNDP quality assurance requirements for health procurement, the Policy represents a key document for all parties involved in procurement activities across UNDP as well as for national partners, suppliers and donors.