Procuring for Pandemics through Joint Procurement Association in the European Union: Lessons for the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community

Abstract

ABSTRACT Procuring for the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa has been devastating. The virus resulted in an unprecedented surge in demand for medicines, medical equipment, and relevant technologies, making individual country orders for health supplies impossible and requiring creating the need for an interstate pooled strategy. This article examines the working of Joint Procurement Association (JPA), an interstate pooled sourcing strategy in the European Union (EU) and to draw lessons for regional blocs like the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC). This article indicates that while the EU has implemented and enjoyed JPA, regional blocs like the SADC and EAC have not and could be missing on the benefits provided by JPAs. The article concludes that while JPAs have not been adopted in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), they possess the potential to improve access to medical drugs equipment and technologies in pandemic times. To implement JPAs, political will, legal and regulatory frameworks, and governance structures are required. The outcome of the article is important to SADC and EAC Secretariats since the understanding and implementation of JPAs can enable member states whose budgets are stressed to derive economies of scale.