Sixth GAVI Board Meeting, 17 October 2001, Ottawa, Canada

October 2001

5. China Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Discussion

• Development of an MOU with a country that has been approved for support by the GAVI Board will not become standard practice ­ it will only be explored under special circumstances, such as in large countries where the Vaccine Fund will be investing a large sum, and in those where the ICC thinks it is needed.
  
  
• Concern was expressed that the Board had been under pressure to make a rapid decision in order to capture an opportunity for publicity that did not in the end materialise. It was suggested that due process should be followed in future.
  
  
• The Board supported the proposed guidelines for the MOU with China developed by the sub-group (Mali, Norway, United Kingdom, CVP, GAVI Secretariat) which participated in a teleconference with China ICC representatives one day prior to the Board meeting. Accordingly, the MOU should cover the following points:
  
  
  • AD syringes: The MOH proposal that the central government will contribute hepatitis B vaccine and related syringe costs, but that counties will contribute to the cost of syringes for the other EPI vaccines, is acceptable.
    
    
  • Procurement: The MOH proposal of using an open, national competitive tenders managed by MOH and MOF is acceptable. It might be advisable to include a procurement specialist in the process.
    
    
  • User fees: The Board will accept that China will charge a low service fee for hepatitis B, in line with the fee charged for other EPI vaccines. It hopes that such service fee will eventually be phased out.
    
    
  • Implementation arrangements, including:
    
    
    • that the ICC will monitor immunization generally, not just GAVI supported aspects
      
      
    • the need for accountability and independent auditing
      
      
    • the need for county level implementation plans
      
      
    • monitoring arrangements that maximize the use of existing health information systems
      
      
    • roles and reporting arrangements for the project office and manager
      
      
    • the need to address disposal of AD syringes
      
      
• There are four basic options for whom should sign the MOU on behalf of GAVI: a designated member of the Board, the Chair of the Board, the President of the Vaccine Fund, or the Executive Secretary of the Secretariat.

DECISIONS

The Board:

5.1 requested that the MOU with China be developed based on the guidelines presented and be approved by the Board before finalization.

5.2 agreed that UNICEF would submit a proposal to the Board for the most appropriate signatories for the MOU on behalf of GAVI.

 

Copyright © GAVI