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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.
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