Department of Foreign Economic and International Relations organized a two-day seminar on "Modern system of competitive procedures in the field of medicine and health care" for representatives of foreign medical and pharmaceutical companies. The seminar was organized by the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The plenary session was held on October 21 in the Moscow City Hall on Novy Arbat. It was opened by Sergei Cheremin, the Minister of Moscow Government, Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations Sergei Cheremin: " Moscow government pays much attention to the social sphere, and it is very important for us to support development of health care. In recent years, we conducted a large-scale modernization of the sector. More than 70 percent of medical institutions in Moscow have been already repaired. The volume of procurement is very serious. Only in 2013 ithe Moscow Government purchased medical devices and equipment worth more than $ 700 million. Sergei Sobyanin, the Mayor of Moscow has set the task to introduce the tender procedures to our foreign partners. We are committed not only to equip the clinic of the city with the most modern equipment, but we also work with other countries regarding professional trainings for medical staff. Today, our physicians have the opportunity to undergo training in the best clinics in Switzerland, Israel and Germany"
Sergei Cheremin said also that Moscow began actively positioning itself at major international exhibitions and conferences with medical focus. "We have recently taken part in the exhibition «Biotechnica- 2013 " in Hannover. In the near future we plan to have a Moscow booth at the exhibition "Medica-2013" in Düsseldorf and in other international forums".
Andrey Sidorov Deputy Head of the Division of public procurement of the Moscow Competition Policy Department reported on tendering procedures, which are used today in Moscow. However, from 1 January 2014 the public procurement system will undergo changes as the Federal Law № 44 "On the contract system in the procurement of goods , works and services for state and municipal needs" will enter into force.
Vladimir Kobets, Head of Pharmacy Devision of the Moscow Department of Health Vladimir Kobets said: "Moscow pays serious attention to providing residents with qualitative medicines. In 2010 the city was supplied with 12 suppliers, but now there are 126 suppliers. Analysis for the 9 months of this year shows that 68 percent of drugs worth of 13.5 billion rubles were purchased from foreign suppliers. Moscow's main partners are Germany , France, UK , Israel and India".
Head of Public Procurements Devision of the Moscow Health Department clarified that there are no restrictions on the procurement of medicines and equipment for foreign suppliers. Russian suppliers are in charge for only 8 per cent of health equipment that was purchased under the program of modernization of the Moscow".
The representatives of foreign medical and pharmaceutical companies had the opportunity not only to communicate directly with the authorities, but also to familiarize with the tender procedures in practice by visiting Tender platform of Moscow Competition Policy Department on October 22.