If a piece of medical equipment or medicine is still under patent, then the only way it can be obtained is through a direct order, Health Minister Chris Fearne told the Malta Independent.

His statement is in reaction to the fact that information in parliament indicated that a total of €6.44 million was spent on direct orders in 2017, with some of those direct orders exceeding the €1 million mark.

Sought for comment on the story, Fearne said that certain direct orders are inevitable as the medicine in question would still be under patent and hence available only from the producer.  Since there is only option from where to get the product, a tender cannot be called, Fearne said.

 When the patent period ends, “generics” for that medicine begin to come out, and it is at that point that a call for a tender is published, Fearne said.  The minister said that after that point, the health ministry would normally opt for these generics over a supply from the producer as it would be cheaper.

The direct order situation is normally used in the case of new medicines or equipment for very specialised treatment.

Information tabled in parliament last week following a parliamentary question by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi indicated that the Central Procurement and Supplies Unit had granted €6.24 million in direct orders – with much smaller amounts being granted by Mater Dei Hospital, the Foundation for Medical Services and the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate.

The direct orders for the CPSU varied, but the major ones pertained to the supply of various medical items such as different types of specific vials, tablets, and powders along with other elements such as an Electro Motive Drug Administration System and Accessories.

The list of direct orders tabled indicates the date when they were granted, but does not indicate the supplier to whom they were granted.