In this period of health crisis, “the priority is to manage daily life, which takes us all our time”, noted Hugues Lefranc. “Everyone has the same needs at the same time. If we normally have a well-established hospital purchasing system, currently the usual suppliers cannot meet our needs.”
The Valenciennes hospital therefore had to find new partners and “so far we have managed to cope,” says the purchasing director.
The CH is indeed the support establishment of the Hainaut-Cambrésis GHT comprising 12 establishments. “Our needs for personal protective equipment (PPE) have exploded, whether for masks or gowns.”
“It is still very tight on FFP2 masks,” he said. “Fortunately, China has once again become an exporter.” But establishments are not used to buying directly. “In this mask market, we meet a lot of players, Chinese producers and European intermediaries.”
“For the care masks, the surgical masks, I decided to call on a Chinese multinational. As regards the FFP2 masks, the offer is even more limited. I call on an intermediary whom I know. Chinese not wanting to manage transport, demanding a 100% cash payment, it is up to us to find someone who takes care of the logistics. I therefore go through an intermediary, a French in Asia whom I know, in whom I have confidence, which does export. We have received samples which we will test. “
The 750 Chinese suppliers of masks must first be referenced by their government in order to export. The masks are tested on site in Chinese laboratories. As the FFP2 standards correspond to European standards, only two Chinese masks can be imported as FFP2 masks. In a circular dated April 5, the French government established correspondence tables between the Chinese referencing system and the European system.
On the mask market, “we meet a lot of new intermediaries, the French,” said Hugues Lefranc, “intermediaries who used to transport, but who know nothing about the mask market”. Result, “these intermediaries offer us masks that do not comply with medical use. The samples are non-compliant, the documentation provided is not satisfactory.
“As for the price, it exploded. It was multiplied by 5 or even 10. We had extremely drawn prices, because negotiated by central purchasing. Currently, we no longer go through these central. We are totally dependent on the market Chinese, “he laments. “Of course we benefit from state grants which are free but the regional health agency (ARS) is unable to guarantee regular supplies every week.”
And the buyer adds: “Our objective is to build up a stock because we know that the health crisis will last. The idea is to have a few weeks of stock to see coming.”
Regarding the gloves, on the nonwoven we go through UniHA which organizes weekly conference calls on the state of the market and “which offers us alternatives in case of shortage”.
In terms of overalls, “the crisis will last a long time. In Valenciennes, we decided to start on fabric blouses. But we had to find new suppliers. A company in the region making seat covers for cars decided to help us but did not have the material to produce some 500 blouses per day. So I sent an email to associations, unions, textile schools. I managed to find the fabric and in 24 hours, we have succeeded in making a prototype with the GIA company from Fourmies. In fact it is doing it all the time, “notes Hugues Lefranc.
As for hydro-alcoholic gels, “it was tense but new companies started to produce. Today we have 4 suppliers capable of supplying us. Each time, the hygiene department of the hospital works with the pharmacy to test solutions, hydro-alcoholic gels. “
For respirators, “our problem is the consumables that are lacking. Some markets are captive for valves, filters, circuits, measurement chambers. It is tense, we regularly make a point with our main supplier of respirators. On the valves, we are working on resin prototypes, but to replace them we need 2D and 3D plans of the machines. The supplier has not yet agreed to send them to us. support from the general management of healthcare provision (DGOS) on this aspect “, detailed Hugues Lefranc.
A GHT facilitator of supplies
–
Asked about the benefits of managing purchasing at the GHT level, the purchasing manager explained that a conference call was held weekly with buyers from party establishments. “As soon as we find avenues of supply we share them. We try to find solutions for all the establishments. Each establishment then takes action.” Each solution found is shared with the other purchasing managers.
Currently, “the directors make me go back to great tensions on the FFP2 masks”.
Within the GHT, “we had started to set up a purchasing security plan. Since the end of December-beginning of January we have alerted the establishments that are part of the need to build up stocks”.
“It is clear that this crisis will push buyers to better secure their purchases, their supplies. Note that the transportation of a pallet by boat costs 50 euros against 4,000 by plane. Better to plan!”
Medicines: a strengthened team
–
With regard to drugs, the Valenciennes CH coordinates purchases for the entire Hauts-de-France region via the health cooperation group (GCS) Pharma Hauts-de-France, made up of 90 hospitals.
To better manage the shortages of curare and antibiotics, “everyone having the same needs at the same time, we have changed our practices”. First by increasing the number of buyers, from 2 to 4, which allows them to contact all the suppliers listed in order to search among a palette of molecules of the same type, those that could replace the missing molecule.
In addition, “we carry out very precise monitoring of stocks. We calculate the needs to the nearest bed thanks to the presence of a pharmacist in the resuscitation department”. And finally, “we pay attention to our consumption. The pharmacists make sure that the drugs are used wisely”.
Finally, every 2 days, “ARS asks us to transmit the state of our stocks”. In the event of a shortage in an establishment, the regional agency organizes a breakdown service from one hospital to another hospital.
“Given that we coordinate this platform, all the tracks found are shared on Pharma Hauts-de-France”, concluded Hugues Lefranc.
| The SNPHARE PPE survey From April 7 to 17, the National Union of Expanded Anesthesiologists and Resuscitators (SNPHARE) hospital practitioners conducted the survey to assess the evolution of the caregivers’ protection capacities and the care of potentially contaminated caregivers, via a questionnaire distributed to all hospital practitioners (SNPHARE file) and relayed on social networks. The results were released on April 21. The survey collected 1,305 responses: 97% of the respondents are doctors, 94% of them practice in CH or CHU. 48% are exposed to Covid patients in hospital departments, 26% in consultation, 26% in the operating room or maternity unit, 21% in intensive care, 19% in emergency departments. In 56% of establishments, wearing a surgical mask is compulsory, with 14% of establishments not having provided for this measure. The results concerning PPE: At the start of a health crisis, only 26% of respondents had minimal PPE and hydro-alcoholic solution (SHA) in sufficient quantity, against 53% currently. Access to SHA has improved since the start of the crisis, but is not fully resolved. The insufficiency or the absence of SHA concerned 10% of the respondents, against 5% currently.
|
–
gdl / nc
– .
