Dhaka: The Advisers Council Committee on Economic Affairs (ACCEA) has given its approval in principle for the procurement of Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) vaccines from GAVI through UNICEF. This decision was made using the Direct Procurement Method (DPM).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the approval was granted during the 30th meeting of the ACCEA, which took place at the Cabinet Division in the city. The meeting was chaired by Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. In a briefing to reporters after the meeting, Dr. Ahmed stated that the committee has agreed to the proposal for the procurement of vaccines under DPM for the initial three months of the fiscal year 2025-26.
Dr. Ahmed further elaborated that while the approval is for a three-month period under DPM, the committee plans to explore the possibility of procuring the vaccines through competitive bidding in the future. This strategic move is aimed at ensuring the availability of necessary vaccines while considering potential cost-effectiveness for the government’s immunization program.