Health issues a tender for more than 87 million framework agreements to arrange the performance of diagnostic examinations in Andalusia

Seville, October 1 (European Press) –

The Andalusian Health Service (SAS) has launched a tender worth €87,439,980, including VAT, the Framework Agreement “under which the terms of contract for the complementary health care service for diagnostic tests for users” of SAS are determined in health centers and private services in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia Autonomous Region and neighboring provinces of other autonomous communities.

The tender was divided into 34 lots, and the total estimated value of the contract is 201,111,954 euros, as the duration of the framework agreement extends to two years with the possibility of extending it for another two years, according to published information. By the Andalusian Military Council on its website, consulted by Europe Press.

In this regard, the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs says that there are “several reasons that justify the two-year term of this framework agreement”, such as that it provides “long-term stability and certainty for healthcare providers”. health care and management,” which “allows them to plan their activities and resources in advance, which can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health services.”

Furthermore, “a two-year term, as well as the possibility of an extension of up to two years, can help reduce these costs and the time required to implement bidding processes,” according to the Council, which also explains that “an agreement framework of up to four Years, including its possible extensions, allows complementary health service providers to gain experience and deeper knowledge about management requirements and needs.

Furthermore, “the two-year framework agreement provides some flexibility to adapt to changes in the needs and requirements of patients and the market in general,” the council says.

The report supporting this framework agreement places this initiative in the “health agreements” signed between the Council and “private entities that own health centers and/or services”, which “respond to the need to complement their health care equipment, and respond to the requirements of protecting the right to health” recognized It is in the constitution.

In this regard, the Council confirms that “depending on the powers entrusted, the needs of health care and the available budget, various contracts for the provision of specialized health care have been maintained for years, complementary to those provided from our own resources, with various companies and owners of approved centers in Andalusia (.. .), due to the administration’s need for adequate assistance to SAS users and to complement its own services.

These, according to the supporting report, are “the benefits included in the National Health System’s shared services portfolio established by Royal Decree No. 1030/2006 of September 15, which will be provided by an accredited hospital center whose contractual objectives were to contract for medical stays – for multi-morbidity patients.” And analgesics – and surgical interventions with hospitalization, major and minor surgeries in outpatient clinics, diagnostic examinations, as well as radiation oncology treatments.

Concerts in the absence of “sufficient private means”

The SAS Authority, affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs, justifies this tender by stating that “it is necessary to contract with licensed companies in this regard, given the lack of sufficient capabilities to carry out various activities and diagnostic examinations.”

Given “the experience accumulated during these years,” the Council continues, “it is necessary to resort to service contracting again in order to guarantee and comply with the guarantee periods in the diagnostic tests for users of the Andalusian Health Service and that they” have been adapted to the requirements of the LCSP – the Law on Public Sector Contracts – subject to Terms and contractual types recognized by the latter.

The framework agreement up for bids will focus on a series of measures included in the supporting report, including “providing health care for diagnostic tests,” which is one of the “most common procedures on the expected list,” such as “endoscopy, colonoscopy, laparoscopic polypectomy, ultrasound.” Doppler, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), axial computed tomography (CAT), positron emission tomography (PET-CT), electromyography, mammography, scintigraphy, reading and emission reports, radiological diagnostic procedures (MRI, CT). Computed tomography and positron emission tomography)

As the report also explains, the provision of care to be contracted “will be developed in accordance with the rules, processes or recommendations of the Ministry responsible for health and the Andalusian Health Service, for the provision of care and specifically to the persons covered.” In the technical prescription document and/or, where applicable, as regulated by the Order of February 23, 2023, which updates and develops the budget and pricing system for agreements and concerts signed by the Andalusian Service “of Health for the provision of health care” in health centers as well as the amendments made In error correction dated March 9, 2023.”

On the part of the Ministry of Health, they also confirm that “in all cases, contracts will be signed on the basis of providing health services taking into account the principles of integration, maximizing the use of private health resources, and care needs at all times, as well as appropriate coordination in the use of public and private resources,” “There is no doubt that it complies with the goal of the Andalusian Health Service to continue achieving the institutional purposes entrusted to it, in full submission to the principles of budgetary stability and social and environmental sustainability.”

In order to “facilitate geographical access, obtain the largest possible number of centers and avoid delays in conducting diagnostic tests, blocks and/or payments may be awarded to all bidders who meet the solvency requirements, whose technical offer exceeds the minimum specified in the specifications and whose economic offer does not exceed the limit.” The maximum unit price determined by the contracting authority,” which is also specified in the report supporting this tender.