Requirements for anti-tuberculosis drug tender requests

As more and more institutions and experts push for the use of fixed-dose co mbinations (FDC) of anti-tuberculosis drugs, the market will most probably change dramatically in the next few years. Prices should go down, but quali ty must remain an essential goal for managers in charge of the procurement process. General essential requirements for suppliers submitting for compet itive bidding are reviewed, and in particular the WHO certification scheme. Even though the scheme does not dispense with the need to submit drugs to the quality control procedures required in the importing country, it is a v ery useful tool which should be encouraged in the supply process. Specific requirements for FDCs are discussed, particularly interpretation of the bio availability tests which are compulsory for rifampicin-containing FDCs.