Sourcing & Management of Health Products

Placing Orders and Procuring Health Products for 2023

18 July 2022

Updated 29 September 2022

While the Global Fund’s assessment of health product supply disruption has been moderate overall during the past 27 months, supply challenges are increasing as a result of growing international freight capacity constraints. Those challenges are likely to remain through at least 2023.

We strongly encourage Principal Recipients to submit requisitions as soon as possible for products that need to be delivered through the end of 2023 to secure supply of health products.

To support the planning for Principal Recipients, we suggest that:

Principal Recipients utilize the lead time guidance to determine when to place orders to enable the products to arrive on time for products needed in 2023 through wambo.org;
Principal Recipients procuring through other channels should utilize the same lead time guidance to place their orders for 2023;
Requisitions are placed for quantities / volumes that the Principal Recipient feels confident with now in case total need for 2023 is subject to change;
For products funded through C19RM or through HIV, tuberculosis, or malaria grants whose implementation period ends 31 December 2023, orders should include planned delivery dates no later than the end of 2023; and well before 31 December for complex health equipment to enable delivery and formal “handover” of projects;
Principal Recipients accelerate approvals for all requisitions placed / to be placed – so that they can be issued to the Procurement Service Agents (PSAs) well before the Global Fund financial year closure; and
No requests for customized labeling are made. The Global Fund will no longer accept customized labeling to ensure that products can be quickly manufactured and efficiently deployed to all countries.

Principal Recipients should take timely decisions on freight proposals to secure the best available slot, as slow approvals inevitably result in several weeks’ delays. The Global Fund and PSAs’ capacities are stretched due to government control measures in place in various countries.

We would also appreciate Principal Recipients’ support in providing rapid feedback on the following:

Approval of remaining shelf life/expiration dates for products offered from stock;
Validation of shipments and obtention of necessary waivers;
Exercising flexibilities with the pertinent in-country stakeholders; and
Approval on the increased freight costs.

Principal Recipients can reach out to their Global Fund Supply Operations’ PR-Services focal point and/or Global Fund Country Team as necessary.

We continue to provide support for current deliveries, and encourage Principal Recipients to use available track and trace tools to monitor the progress of their orders:

Delays of more than 30 days are likely in current situations. The Global Fund, the Stop TB Partnership and procurement service agents are working with implementing partners to identify affected orders and minimize impact on deliveries where delays of more than 30 days are expected.

A PPM Escalation Framework for Delayed Orders [ download in English ] has been developed, and additional information is provided through our regularly updated COVID-19 Health Product Supply page.