Medical supplies centrally and quickly available

From bandages to surgical instruments, medical supplies must be quickly and seamlessly available in the event of national or defense emergency, and lives depend on being well cared for in the event of war. The necessary material is now provided by Sub-department XIII in the Health Care Command of the Bundeswehr.

For the medical service of the Bundeswehr, most medical supplies such as bandages, cannulas, or medications are commercially available on the open market. But so far, medical supplies have been predominantly procured by the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology, and Use of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw). In a shift of procurement competence for medical supplies from BAAINBw to the Health Care Command of the Bundeswehr (KdoGesVersBw) and the Organizational Area Infrastructure, Environmental Protection and Services (IUD) last year, the central goal of being combat-ready in the event of national and alliance defense, of course, also played a central role. However, a recent health emergency event showed that a rethink is necessary.

Inadequate storage during Corona

"The first experiences, in my opinion, were made in 2021 with Corona," said Colonel Pharmacist Peter Marth, from the Directorate B XIII 1 at the Health Care Command of the Bundeswehr. He takes on the task of the head of the new sub-department for procurement processes in EinkaufBw as the central demand requisitioner for the medical service. During Corona, it was immediately apparent that not everything was available, nor in sufficient quantities in the commercial market, and that industry could not deliver everything immediately, said Marth. "This created supply bottlenecks and operational restrictions that caused concern," recalls the Colonel Pharmacist. 

As the size of the Bundeswehr had shrunk in the decades since the end of the Cold War and had also been restructured as more of a deployment force, the question of storage and in-house production of medical supplies arose again. It was not only toilet paper that was missing in the pandemic, but essential things like disinfectants, face protection, and basic medications.

Rethinking procurement

This was the beginning of a rethink at all levels, and the Russian war against Ukraine was the last straw. The question was asked: What products would suddenly no longer be available in war or crisis and need to be stored and stockpiled again? Is it necessary to procure commercially available products through an armaments office? This process must be more straightforward, faster, and more immediate. As a result, purchasing segments that are commercially available and market-available were identified, these were removed from the armaments office, and handed over to players who can also handle the procurement process "EinkaufBw". For medical supplies, this will be the Subdepartment XIII Procurement Organization (BeschO) at the Health Care Command of the Bundeswehr in the future. To meet legal requirements, procurement responsibility for procurement and contract matters lies with the Federal Office for Infrastructure, Environmental Protection, and Services of the Bundeswehr (BAIUDBw) as the contract awarding and holding authority.

More segments identified

Not only medical supplies were subject to review, but also other segments, such as office supplies, road salt, firewood. Classic purchasing material, consumables, which are identified, purchased, and then used via the Bundeswehr catalog. Material that does not require further care. It is not new that shopping baskets are handed over from BAAINBw to BAIUDBw for procurement. What is new is the fact that a shopping basket or purchasing segment should now be handed over that requires technical, and therefore medical, care. And that for relevant medical devices over the entire period of use. BAIUDBw cannot provide continuous care. Since the medical service is the central requisitioner for this segment, and the expertise in the medical field of the Bundeswehr, it was quickly clear that the Health Care Command of the Bundeswehr will assume this role. A huge relief for BAAINBw and procurement authority for the people who ultimately work with the material. A win-win situation for the entire Bundeswehr.